“Our seniors deserve fairness, not fixes for a chosen few.”
Congressman Boswell is a leader in the fight to bring equality to Medicare reimbursements. Iowa has one of the lowest Medicare reimbursement rates in the nation, with recent estimates showing Iowa receiving a $4,888 reimbursement per enrollee, ranking the state 49th out of 51 (including the District of Columbia). This is 11% less than the national average, even though Iowa’s pay the same Medicare taxes. This unfair disparity costs Iowa over $1 billion a year in federal funds. This disparity places a financial strain on Iowa’s healthcare providers and makes it harder to recruit new doctors. We have an excellent healthcare system in Iowa, and must fight to protect care for our seniors and all Iowans by ensuring we get our fair share of federal Medicare dollars.
Boswell has fought to change Medicare policy to secure Iowa’s fair share by educating Congressional colleagues about payment disparities and pushing for a legislative solution. In 2003, Boswell partnered with Congressman Tom Osborne of Nebraska to introduce the bipartisan Medicare Fairness in Reimbursement Act, which would ensure that no state receives more than 105% or less that 95% of the national average. In 2007, Boswell cosponsored a bill introduced by Congressman Bruce Braley from Waterloo, the Medicare Equity and Accessibility Act, which would increase Medicare payment rates for Iowa physicians.
Congressman Boswell has joined with his colleagues year after year to prevent cuts to Medicare physician reimbursement rates and improve payment rates in rural areas to keep Medicare working for Iowa’s seniors.
“Education is the great equalizer.”