Former Trustee Michael O. Leavitt Calls the Medicare Trustees Report a Dangerous Illusion

August 6, 2010

Former Health and Human Services Secretary and Medicare Trustee Michael O. Leavitt characterized the annual trustees report on the future well being of Medicare as an illusion created by unrealistic assumptions and double counting.

The 2010 Medicare Trustees Report (available on CMS.gov and in associated multimedia for this release) was issued yesterday.

“The report has created the illusion that Medicare is better off now than it was a year ago,” said Leavitt, who served as a trustee from 2005 until 2009. “In reality, the national health reform law has weakened the program, while creating the false impression that we have made progress.”

Leavitt cautions that the trustees report leads people to believe that the new health reform law was instrumental in postponing the exhaustion of the trust fund assets from 2017 until 2029.

Leavitt believes the assumed cuts and cost control measures do not enhance the nation’s ability to fund Medicare in the short or long run.

Michael O. Leavitt is available to share his perspective. Contact Denise Schwarz at 801-656-9716 to schedule an interview.

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Associated Multimedia

2010 Medicare Trustees Report

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