Leadership of the Medicare Justice Coalition and Minnesota Senior Federation are meeting with state Congressional candidates about our concerns on needed changes to Medicare and the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

All candidates have been very responsive and many have indicated they will make MJC positions a part of their Congressional agenda, if elected. Each of these meetings has focused on four key areas:

1. Medicare geographic inequities - these punish Upper Midwest seniors and physicians who provide relatively cost-effective health care

2.  Drug costs and Medicare Part D - this overly complicated benefit will hasten the bankruptcy of Medicare

3. Consumer access to health care - this is greatly limited by changes in proposed Medicare physician payment beginning next January with a 5.1 percent cut and federal polices that undermine local health plan viability and options

4. Outdated Medicare benefits - these provide little long-term care benefits, grossly inadequate mental health coverage and undermind primary care services

Meetings to date have included Senate candidate Amy Klobuchar (DFL) and staff of Senate candidate Mark Kennedy (R), 2nd Congressional District candidate Colleen Rowley (DFL); and 6th District candidates Michelle Bachman (R) and Patty Wetterling (DFL). MJC materials are being sent to all 5th District Congressional candidates in advance of a Federation-sponsored Congressional forum Aug. 31. Other meetings with candidates are also being scheduled.

All seniors are urged to contact their favorite congressional candidate and ask that they support the Medicare Justice Position on Medicare. The Medicare Key Issues chart provides key points for candidates to consider. Clip out and send it to your congressional candidates. For a hardcopy of the chart or handouts and questions to present candidates or at candidate forums contact the Senior Federation at 651/783-5014.