THE PRIVATIZATION OF MEDICARE

Thursday, March 30 | 1:00 p.m. |Barre Area Senior Center, 131 S Main Street

THE PRIVATIZATION OF MEDICARE

Dr. Marvin Malek, past president of Vermont Physicians for a National Health Program, in his presentation on the privatization of Medicare, will review Medicare Advantage, Direct Contracting Entities (DCE) and the new Accountable Care-Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (ACO/REACH) program as he leads a discussion about the impact of privatization initiatives on the care that Medicare beneficiaries receive, the costs Medicare beneficiaries will be facing, and financial stability of the Medicare program.

After its implementation in 1965, for the first 20 years, the Medicare program reimbursed hospitals and doctors directly for care provided to enrollees. In 1985, some Medicare recipients were given the option of choosing to have their benefit managed by a private company, currently known as Medicare Advantage. Last year, officials in the Medicare program announced that by 2030, they would be involuntarily assigning the remaining Medicare enrollees into another managed care program—the ACO/REACH program.

Co-sponsored by Vermont Physicians for a National Health Program, Vermont Health Care for All, Vermont State Employees Association, and Vermont Workers’ Center. The program will be recorded by Onion River Community Access.