Statewide Poll: Oregon Seniors Urge Action to Prevent Proposed Cuts to Medicare Programs

- 94% of Oregon seniors more likely to support lawmakers who preserve Medicare funding -

SALEM, Ore., Sept. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Oregon Association for Home Care and Bring the Vote Home today released new polling data demonstrating a majority of Oregon seniors support funding for Medicare healthcare services for Oregon's 653,905 Medicare beneficiaries.  Oregon seniors also overwhelmingly oppose proposed cuts to Medicare funding for treatment services on which millions of senior citizens depend.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed cuts to Medicare funding for cancer treatment, home healthcare, cardiology and vascular care, and dialysis treatment.  Unless the President and Congress intervene, these cuts will go into effect on January 1, 2014, putting patient access to care at risk.

Key findings of the poll include:

• 97% of seniors surveyed believe Medicare coverage of services provided in hospitals, physicians' offices and community-based settings are important.
• 92% of seniors do not approve of the government making large and sudden cuts to Medicare services.
• 92% of seniors support the government and President taking steps to prevent future Medicare cuts.
• 94% of seniors surveyed are more likely to support lawmakers who work to preserve the Medicare program by stopping fraud and abuse.

While Medicare beneficiaries in all states are vulnerable to the negative impact of drastic funding cuts, seniors and disabled individuals in rural and medically underserved areas will be severely impacted by additional cuts. Many providers of vital services, such as home healthcare agencies, could be rendered inoperable if more cuts are implemented, forcing beneficiaries to seek care miles away from their communities in higher cost settings.

"Proposed cuts to the Medicare program threaten access to vital healthcare services that so many Oregon seniors rely on for care," stated Sarah Myers, CAE, Executive Director of the Oregon Association for Home Care. "Congress and the Administration must take steps to ensure access to quality, affordable healthcare is protected for current and future beneficiaries."

Public Policy Polling completed this survey August 19-20, 2013.  The survey polled 550 of Oregon's registered voters aged 65 and older. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3.0 percent

Bring the Vote Home was launched to help senior citizens, disabled Americans, their family members, and their home healthcare clinicians participate in elections through voter registration and absentee ballot application initiatives. Home healthcare beneficiaries make up a rapidly growing portion of the population, but the homebound status of many of them makes it difficult for them to participate in the electoral process. Bring the Vote Home is dedicated to helping all members of the home healthcare community have the opportunity to participate fully in our nation's democratic process. Learn more at http://www.bringthevotehome.org.

SOURCE Bring the Vote Home

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