Senator Tom Harkin says Medicare needs repairs to make the system work for Iowans. The Iowa democrat says first, he’s suggesting a three-part remedy. He calls them the “three Ps,” prescription drugs, payment equity and premium fairness. Harkin says Iowa is not getting its fair share of reimbursement for providing healthcare services to Medicare patients. By some measures, he says Iowa’s dead last in reimbursement, and he’d mandate that no state get less than 95-percent of more than 105-percent of the average reimbursement. Harkin says the monthly premium should be adjusted to reflect the state’s average cost of Medicare, and that would mean a break for Iowa seniors.He says that would cut the premiums for clients in 36 states, and adds he hears a lot from the elderly about why Medicare patients in states like Florida and Texas get more, and pay the same as senior citizens in Iowa.
