Well, kind of.

Today, the Republican National Committee released a "Seniors’ Health Care Bill Of Rights" meant to get down on paper principles for protecting seniors health care under health reform. Good thing all of their principles are met in the current legislation being considered by Congress.

Here are the principles:

  1. PROTECT MEDICARE AND NOT CUT IT IN THE NAME OF HEALTH CARE REFORM

    Medicare is indeed protected under the health reform bills being proposed by Congress, and in fact, the Medicare trust fund is extended. Medicare benefits will not be touched and waste and fraud will be eliminated. In fact, the bill being considered by the House substantially strengthens Medicare [pdf] by stabilizing reimbursements for physicians and fully eliminating the Part D "donut hole" (the policy that makes prescription drugs unaffordable for seniors) over time.

  2. PROHIBIT GOVERNMENT FROM GETTING BETWEEN SENIORS AND THEIR DOCTORS

    No bill being considered by Congress puts government in between anyone and their doctors. In fact, these bills give you more choices and more freedom to get the care you need. Under health reform, you would be able to keep the insurance and doctor you have if you like it, or you would be able to choose from a range of plans – both private and public – to find the one that fits your need. With choice like that, an insurance industry bureaucrat need not get in between you and your doctor ever again.

  3. PROHIBIT EFFORTS TO RATION HEALTH CARE BASED ON AGE

    There is no rationing of care in any plan being considered, by age or otherwise. In fact, it is expressly prohibited.

  4. PREVENT GOVERNMENT FROM INTERFERING WITH END-OF-LIFE CARE DISCUSSIONS

    The bills being considered keep government out of end-of-life care altogether. In fact, they do seniors one better. Under the bill being considered by the House, doctors would be paid for end-of-life counseling with their patients if their patients choose to have it. Of course, they can choose not to have it if they don’t want, that’s up to them.

  5. ENSURE SENIORS CAN KEEP THEIR CURRENT COVERAGE

    As noted above, there are no cuts to Medicare benefits under any health reform plan being considered, and for the rest of us, choice is preserved or expanded. Health reform would eliminate waste from the system and close the "donut hole."

  6. PROTECT VETERANS BY PRESERVING TRICARE AND OTHER BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES

    Nothing in the bills being considered would touch veteran’s benefits, so they are indeed preserved. Health reform would guarantee members of the military can get quality, affordable health care during their military service and when they choose to retire.

We’re glad Republicans recognize how good health reform will be for seniors, veterans, and for everyone in this country. What makes the whole thing curious if the fact that they’re dead set against health care reform legislation. Seems like if they really wanted to protect seniors, they’d be for it.

(also posted at the NOW! blog)

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