The Medicare Justice Coalition is led by senior citizen consumer organizations in low reimbursed states and other consumer organizations that share these goals. Beginning in Minnesota, under the leadership of the Minnesota Senior Federation, the MJC has formed a multi-state national Consumer Steering Committee. This Steering Committee is composed entirely of Medicare beneficiaries. At present, there is no fee for consumer organizations to join the Coalition. Individual membership is open to all persons, regardless of age, who share these goals. To join the Medicare Justice Coalition click here.
The MJC has established workgroups and committees composed of consumers, providers, payers and other health professionals. These include an Executive Committee (currently chaired by Brian Berggren, Howard Gochberg officers of the Minnesota Senior Federation and Kirk Norris, President of the Iowa Hospital Association) and a very active Public Policy Work Group which deals with Medicare Equity as it impacts on both Medicare Advantage and Fee-For-Service. The MJC also works in close collaboration with the National Institute on Health Policy.
Medicare Justice Coalition Approach:
The MJC works to secure its goals by means of consumer education, public policy initiatives, and legal action.
§ Develop consumer networks in at least five states by the end of 2005. This will be directed at consumers in states adversely affected by current Medicare Reimbursement policy.
§ Medicare Fairness Educational Outreach program directed at business and labor communities.
§ Ongoing media campaign to bring attention to the issue
Public Policy Initiatives:
§ Protect rural hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health care and other providers in budget negotiations.
§ Work towards Medicare Equity in the Medicare Modernization Act as it impacts beneficiaries, hospitals, and physicians
§ Develop and have introduced federal legislation that would result in:
- Equal Medicare benefits for all recipients nationwide at the optimum level of service.
- A full range of health plan options available nationwide.
- Establish parity and equity between reimbursement for HMOs (Medicare Advantage) and traditional fee for service (Medicare Parts A and B) all Medicare recipients, both FFS and HMOs
§ Holding our Members of Congress accountable on these issues, developing corrective legislation, organizing consumers and affected providers in other low benefit states.
§ Work to moderate the cost of prescription drugs for all Americans
§ Work towards Medicare Mental Health parity
The MJC believes that the current Medicare reimbursement system is not only unjust, it is illegal. The MJC, through the Minnesota Senior Federation and individual claimants, joined Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch in filing a lawsuit on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries in the fall of 1999.
Issues and Activism 
