Mr. Speaker, earlier today I welcomed to the capitol Dr. Sharon Brangman, from my district, who was recently named the next president of the American Geriatrics Society. This morning she told me and other Members about how physicians who work with the elderly are spending the overwhelming majority of their time providing primary care, often without appropriately compensation through current Medicare formulas. The extra year of training and additional expertise actually mean less pay, which is one of the reasons we have an acute shortage of geriatricians in America.
Mr. Speaker, baby boomers entering into their later stages of life, will cause America’s older population to double in the next few years.
We must reform our health care system to adequately compensate doctors for providing preventative and coordinated care to patients in every stage of life. If we do it right it will save money because many superfluous and harmful treatments will be eliminated and seniors will not only live longer, but better lives. I yield back.
