WHEREAS:

            Medicare is a national social insurance implemented by the United States in 1966 to provide health insurance to Americans aged 65 and older and for the disabled; and

WHEREAS:

            During the last 48 years, Medicare has been the single largest health insurance program in the country, providing one of every five dollars used to purchase health services, and in turn financing four out of every ten hospital stays; and

WHEREAS:

            As of 2013 over 50 million Americans were covered by Medicare at a cost of around $600 billion.  By 2023, Medicare is expected to provide coverage to nearly 70 million Americans at an expected cost of $1 trillion; and

WHEREAS:

            The fast rising cost of Medicare is due mainly to the fast rising costs of volume and use of service, new technologies, and increasing prices of drugs; and

WHEREAS:

            Republicans are pressing to cut the Medicare budget and to convert the program into a voucher system; and

WHEREAS:

            President Barack Obama has expanded the Health and Human Services budget over $1 trillion to cover new populations added to the Medicare rolls, as well as expanded coverage for younger population through the Affordable Care Act.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME will support President Barack Obama’s initiatives to protect and maintain adequate funding levels for Medicare; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME will lobby Congress to control and regulate fast rising health care costs such as prescription drugs, medical technology services, and medical tests; and

            That AFSCME will develop campaigns to engage and educate workers and general public the importance of sustaining the Medicare program for future generations.