Seniors

SENIORS

Joe Sestak has worked hard to specifically assist America’s senior citizens. In fact, he introduced legislation that initiated the first House Committee Hearing on elder abuse in nearly two decades. Among many efforts for seniors and retirees, Joe has co-sponsored, introduced and voted for legislation to enhance Medicare benefits by eliminating co-payments for preventive services; lower drug prices on Medicare prescriptions; waive the cap on federally insured reverse mortgages; increase access to community-based healthcare; increase the number of senior volunteers; and prevent a reduction of federal payments for nursing homes.

HIGHLIGHTS OF JOE SESTAK’S LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO SUPPORT SENIORS

ENSURING SENIORS’ HEALTH SECURITY

VOTED FOR THE MEDICARE IMPROVEMENTS FOR PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS ACT:

Prevents a 10% payment reduction for physicians in Medicare, enhances Medicare preventive and mental health benefits, improves and extends programs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, and extends expiring provisions for rural and other providers.

2.CO-SPONSORED THE MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG NEGOTIATION ACT:

Would have repealed the provision that prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from negotiating with drug companies for lower prices for those enrolled in Medicare prescription drug plans and instead requires the Secretary to conduct such negotiations.

3.AUTHORED THE ELDER ABUSE VICTIMS ACT:

Protects seniors from elder abuse by addressing and correcting the failures in state elder abuse policies, establishing specialized prosecution and research departments, and training prosecutors and law enforcement on the best practices for handling these unique cases. Addresses estimate that between one and two million Americans age 65 or older have been victims of elder abuse. The National Coordinator of the non-partisan 564-member Elder Justice Coalition calls the House’s passage of the bill “the most significant vote specifically on elder justice ever taken in the House.”

INTRODUCED THE PATIENT SAFETY AND ABUSE PREVENTION ACT:

Provides for nationwide expansion of the pilot program for national and state background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers.

VOTED FOR “CHAMP” ACT TO IMPROVE PREVENTIVE CARE FOR SENIORS:

Would have eliminated co-payments and deductibles for preventive services, providing free screening tests for glaucoma, initial preventive physical exams, prostate and colorectal cancer, mammograms and diabetes; reduces co-payment for mental health services to ensure parity with physical care; and stops doctors from leaving Medicare by reversing the 10% decrease in physician reimbursement with a .5% increase over the next two years.

CO-SPONSORED THE COMMUNITY CHOICE ACT:

Increases access to community-based healthcare services for Americans with disabilities and older Americans, rather than requiring them to live the remainder of their lives in long-term care facilities.

ENSURING SENIORS’ ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY SECURITY

CO-SPONSORED THE SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACT :

Drastically improves monthly Social Security benefits by repealing the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision, which punish more than 1 million employees in more than a dozen states.

VOTED TO SAVE A VITAL HOUSING PROGRAM FOR SENIORS PROGRAM FOR SENIORS:

The Expanding American Homeownership Act would have temporarily waived the cap on federally insured reverse mortgages, which enable senior citizens to tap the equity in their homes.

INTRODUCED THE SILVER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:

Provides a $1,000 scholarship for continuing education to individuals over the age of 55 who commit to volunteering for 500+ hours per year.

INTRODUCED FINANCIAL SECURITY IN RETIREMENT ACT:

Provided one-year exemption from 401(k) required minimum distribution (RMD) requirements during ongoing market downturn. RMD would have required account holders of IRA/401(k) accounts to withdraw a minimum amount of money every year after they reach 70½ years old.

INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO ENHANCE SERVICE CORPS FOR RETIRED EXECUTIVES (SCORE):

Would have enhanced SCORE, a critical Small Business Administration (SBA) Entrepreneurial Development program providing entrepreneurs with free counseling by former executives. HR 2359 would have required SCORE to carry out a plan to increase the proportion of mentors who are from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds; and establish benchmarks for use in evaluating the performance of its activities and volunteers.

SUPPORTED FURTHER ASSISTANCE DURING ECONOMIC DOWNTURN BY VOTING TO:

Provide a one time payment of $250 to retirees and disabled Veterans.

Increase funding for elderly senior nutrition services.

Reduce energy costs through weatherization assistance.

PROVIDING SENIORS ACCESS TO IMPORTANT RESOURCES

HOSTED SENIOR SUMMIT AND SERVICE FAIR

More than 300 attendees and representatives from more than 70 service organizations joined Congressman Sestak and other government officials, including Nora Dowd Eisenhower, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, to discuss individual needs and address broader concerns about seniors’ issues. The Congressman lead government representatives at the federal, state and county level in a panel discussion about issues ranging from elder abuse to health insurance, social security and long-term care. The discussion was followed by a service fair at which more than 70 organizations offered their expertise on senior issues. Caseworkers were available to address specific concerns from seniors, family members and

SUMMARY OF FUTURE INITIATIVES

Looking forward, we see that the programs seniors rely on today are in jeopardy. The Medicare Trust fund is scheduled to run out by 2017 and the Social Security trust fund will run out in 2037. We must take actions to restore the fiscal stability of these programs. Specifically, we must take steps to reform the way we pay for Medicare, from a system that pays for quantity of care to one that pays for quality of care. In doing so, we can reduce excessive and unnecessary utilization, improve the quality of care our nation’s seniors receive, and protect the long term future of the program. With respect to social security, I believe we should preserve long term fiscal solvency not by cutting benefits but by reexamining the way we find revenues for social security benefits.

Secure the Long-Term Solvency of Social Security while Maintaining Benefits

Oppose Privatization of Social Security, which would have decreased the income of retirees significantly during the recent economic recession.

Support Efforts to Credit Social Security Revenue to the Trust Fund Rather than the General Fund.

Establish a Social Security “Lock Box” Policy, such a policy would prevent diversion of funds from Social Security for other programs.

Supports Examining the Regressive Nature of Social Security Taxes and Exclusion of Investment Income.

Improve Financial Situation of Medicare while Maintaining Coverage for Seniors

Implement Wellness Program in Medicare, Give premium and co-pay reductions to seniors who participate in chronic disease management programs and follow preventative care recommendations.

Establish Regional Accountable Care Organization reimbursement in Medicare, Provide pilot program to encourage a regional implementation of Accountable Care Organizations.

Improve Electronic Medical Records Use in Medicare Direct the Office of the National Coordinator to establish a national standard for interoperability of Health Records by September 1st, 2010. Require the inclusion of interoperability in the definition of meaningful use of health information technology for technology use incentives in the Medicare program.

Expanding Rewards for Physicians Who Spend Time Coordinating Care of Their Patients.

Improving Payment Accuracy and Expand Funding and Authority to Fight Waste, Fraud and Abuse

Retirement and Pension Security

Automatic Enrollment in 401K Plans, Most employers that sponsor retirement savings plans under §401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) require employees to decide whether to enroll in the plan. It permissible under current law to enroll employees in these plans automatically.

Support Life-Cycle Funds, Reduce Involvement and Investment risk by increasing the number of “life-cycle” funds. These funds are managed entirely by the fund and require not investment experience by the individual.

Create Auto-Enrollment in Company Pension Plans

Support Annuitization of Defined Contribution Pension Plans

Ensure Fair Disclosure of 401K Fees

Protect Against Conflicted Investment Advice

Provide Temporary Relief From Required Minimum Distributions