OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Digging in on Medicare

'No' to Medicare age change: Liberal Democrats in Congress absolutely, unequivocally, very much do not want to see the Medicare eligibility age raised as part of an agreement on the "fiscal cliff."

While some have suggested that Medicaid is actually the higher priority, the left made clear on Wednesday that it's not ready to give in on raising the Medicare age — an idea President Obama has supported in the past.

“If this is a trial balloon, it’s a lead balloon," Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) told Washington Post blogger Greg Sargent, adding that he "can’t imagine he is seriously considering it.”

But Obama does appear to be seriously considering a change in the Medicare eligibility age. He declined to specifically rule it out during an ABC News interview Tuesday night, although he did say it's not clear that raising the eligibility age would produce meaningful savings. It's estimated to save the federal government about $113 billion over the first decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office, but that's assuming the increase is phased in gradually over several years, so savings might be higher further down the road.

Healthwatch has more here.

AARP too: AARP, the nation's largest seniors' lobby also reiterated its opposition to a higher eligibility age on Wednesday. 

"Proposals to increase the Medicare eligibility age simply shift costs onto beneficiaries and do nothing to lower health care costs. In fact, this idea would dramatically increase costs for younger seniors, drive up premiums for those in Medicare, increase costs to businesses and states, and raise health care costs overall," AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said in a statement.

Another 'no': The federal government will be running Pennsylvania's insurance exchange, Republican Gov. Tom Corbett said Wednesday.

"[Pennsylvania] will not move forward with a state-based health exchange because there are too many unknowns with too little time, not enough flexibility and too high a cost to our taxpayers," Corbett said.

Thursday's agenda

The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. State health officials and and others will discuss the state of the law's insurance exchanges and Medicaid expansion.

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on the cost and care associated with people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid.


State by state

Fla. governor wants to talk healthcare with Obama

Abortion regs that prompted 'vagina' controversy get Michigan Senate approval

Planned Parenthood challenges Wis. medication-induced abortion law

R.I. submits blueprint for Health Benefits Exchange

Calif. psychiatrists paid $400k shows bidding war

Funds sought to implement Kan. Medicaid changes


Lobbying registrations

Van Scoyoc Associates / VGM Group

The Ferguson Group / Magic Johnson Foundation

Alpine Group / Grace Health System


Reading list

Aetna plans to join 15 exchanges under healthcare reform

Hospitals wait for word on cash relief for Sandy

Lawmaker: NFL players 'trying to back out' on HGH

Pfizer to pay $55M in drug misbranding case


What you might have missed on Healthwatch

Study: Healthcare costs rising faster than wages

GOP lawmaker’s bill would repeal Obama’s Medicare cost board

Report: Liberal senators united against raising Medicare age

Warren, Baldwin to join HELP panel

US backs United Nations measure in favor of universal health coverage



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