ink you for the opportunity to submit some of our Senior Citizens of Kanville, Inc.,

Senior C

atly charged with this t those with beneficial mer

rage families to maintain allow the meaningful tax

ablish a National Health In

Sablish a Schedule of surger

Unfortunately, I will be

to accept these charges. F

rred. Doctor and Hospital

, relative to Medicare. We plan to attend the Hearing.
out of State this week. Today, I received your letter, which does not allow
ent time for me to notify many interested members, nor to more vividly express
ughts.

naturally are deeply concerned about the future of Modicare-Medicaid and all
enior Citizen Programs, as indeed we were and are concerned about the final
of Social Security.

e Recipients were "hit" with a 27% increase in out of pocket costs. We understand
me Committee members, who are studying the Medicare System and Program and are
sed to make recommendations for economic changes, are not versed well enough on
ject of Medicare to make a fair impartial judgement.

ny elderly today

fearful of escalating medical costs and reductions in the e-Medicaid Program, are paying large premiums for supplementary Insurance I which they may not need.

I submit the following suggestions:

e hitehouse Conference on Aging Committees, who participated on the topic of -e, made many worthy recommendations. We suggest that the Medicare Study Commi

to perform more services

stitute an across-the-board als by all Third Party payer t be able to shift their c

ate economies.

Plans and payments, shoul

strong Federally mandated pe Programs. Penalties sho ipients of service, as warr

y not reduce some of the D ple: We would not impair

carriers, planned for c System--perhaps strike

t-day and near future weap

tainly want this Great Cour

Senior Citizens of Manville, Inc.

BOROUGH HALL

101 South Main Street

Manville, New Jersey 08835

-2

with this task, review these recommendations and propose

neficial merit.

to maintain elderly relations (parents, in-laws, etc.) in their aningful tax credits.

al Health Insurance Policy, through Public or Private Insurance

ale of surgery charges

Hospital charges, etc. Compel more

e charges. Payment to Hospitals, only for the amount of necessary and Hospital charges should be so devised, as to eliminate the ore services than required. Eliminate the cost-plus fee for

8s-the-board limit on increases in Medicaid reimbursement to

Party payers, including Medicare and Medicaid.

Hospitals, thereby

shift their costs onto private-pay patients. Thus, they would have

-yments, should be subject to more thorough audit.

Congress should

ly mandated penalties and enforcement against fraud in the MedicarePenalties should be dealt to Hospitals, Doctors, Technicians and/or vice, as warranted.

some of the Deficit spending and allot some of this money to Medicare. ld not impair our preparedness, by eliminating one of the nuclear planned for construction. Reconsider the sensibility of the MX rhaps strike the B-1 Bomber from the plans. (The B-52 is a worthy r future weapon). As a U. S. Marine Corps, Purple Heart Veteran, is Great Country to be ever ready to defend itself.

Senior Citizens of Manville, Inc.

BOROUGH HALL

101 South Main Street Manville, New Jersey 08835

-3

erhaps, a nominal increase in Payroll taxes, paid by employers. They have already

-anted generous tax credits and allowances.

peal this year's 10% tax credit

-

which really will not greatly benefit the O family. There was really little beneficial economic uplift with the last 5%

me use of General Revnue funds, as required.

conclusion, we plead with your Committee to do all in your power to curb the Health Care Inflation rate. It certainly is a burden and curse on the elderly. ainly trust that your most important Committee will again serve the interest fare of our elderly, as you have done in the past.

Respectrally submitted,

Frank Sterbinsky, President
Senior CItizens of Manville, Inc.
1008 June Place

Manville, N.J. 08835

possibility of increasing t And would be unpopular bably unavoidable. recommendation to increase alled catastrophic" prote citizens and a misinter ost of them. I believe th Setime reserve" and extend y-insurance through th izens. Since the average s the seven million elderly a 170,000 patients (a smal 60 days. Implementation insurance with seniors sc Estimated but surely prohibi

increasing the payroll tax for allocation to the Medicare

e unpopular with the working population, but a moderate increase dable.

Ito increase beneficiary co-payments for hospital stays with ophic" protection after 60 days seems totally unacceptable to d a misinterpretation of what "catastrophic" coverage means I believe they consider it in-patient hospital days beyond e" and extended nursing home stays. The proposed recommendation ce through the 60th day is financially unacceptable to senior the average stay is 11.5 days the burden for payment would be ion elderly annually admitted to hospitals for the benefit of tients (a small percentage of the seven million) who stay longer plementation of this proposal would cause chaos in the Medicareth seniors scrambling to protect their interests at presently Surely prohibitive costs.

citizens do not have the financial ability now to carry supplemental
surance and if the proposed co-payments become effective most of
ow have supplemental coverage would have to drop this coverage due
to pay for it.

seniors I talk to are more satisfied with Part A than Part B of
ecause even some who can barely afford it have protected themselves
D-insurance through Medigap Insurance. However, the change in hospital
the DRG (Diagnosis Related Group) system must be evaluated carefully.
ystem is in use in New Jersey, it should be possible to obtain detailed
from the New Jersey Department of Health to compare the costs prior
how for hospitals in a variety of locations. Most people are of the
DRG places the burden of payment for "bad debts I which includes
O can't or won't pay their hospital bills" in one year on patients
e next year when the new DRG rate is set. This places an unfair
ity on those who need to enter a hospital and have provided for this
It would seem the cost of care for non-paying patients should be
ibility of all people, not just those who became ill.

Part B

the seniors are disillusioned with the "reasonable charges" s they are unrealistic and a very small number of doctors accept Seniors are frequently told to ask their doctor this question before ed. This is impossible in some instances

particularly when the

As anesthesia and has to use the group in a particular hospital.

e year freeze on "reasonable charges" would only add to their problems.
ution for the patient would be if doctors accepted assignment and
charges were realistic. If this could be accomplished, most bene-
uld not oppose having a 75% 25% ratio used for Part B reimbursement.

То

ity and Medicare have helped many people stay out of poverty.
s protection I would agree to the use of general revenues if at
the trust funds are threatened. In that case, on a temporary basis
al funds might be acceptable. I am fearful that use of general revenues
y the original goals of Medicare and lead to possible future applica-
ans test. It could also work adversely against cost-containment in
future Congress was tempted to use an increase in Medicare benefits
ort in an election.

be appropriate to transfe patients under 65 and for

Lore extensive use of ho aztial saving. If a patier e confident in returning 1 are is needed for Medica would also help the patie

appreciate this opportunity