June '10 Nevada Government—U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley Column

Berkley Announces “Donut Hole” Checks Are Now On The Way To Nevada Seniors

Health Reform Law Will Help Thousands of Nevadans Over Next Several Months

June 9, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today announced that on June 10, 2010, Medicare will begin mailing out $250 “donut hole” checks to tens of thousands of seniors. Under the recently enacted health reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, seniors who fall in the “donut hole” coverage gap in 2010 will receive one-time tax-free $250 checks.

The checks are just the first benefit from health reform for seniors in the Medicare Prescription Drug program. Beginning in January 2011, seniors in the “donut hole” will receive a 50% discount on brand name drugs. By 2020, the “donut hole” will be completely closed.
“Prescription drugs cost many Nevadans covered by Medicare thousands of dollars a year and these checks are a down payment on reducing prescription drug costs for seniors and eventually closing the ‘donut hole’ altogether,” said Berkley. “This is the first example of how the health care reform bill will strengthen Medicare and help Nevada’s seniors.”

The “donut hole” coverage gap is the period in the prescription drug benefit (once their prescription drug costs exceed $2,830) in which beneficiaries pay 100 percent of the cost of their drugs until they hit the catastrophic coverage threshold. Last year, roughly 28,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Nevada fell in the “donut hole” and received no extra help to defray the cost of their prescription drugs.

“We have made a promise to our nation’s seniors. Access to high-quality and affordable health care is not something they should hope for – it is something they have earned,” Berkley said. “Our seniors deserve the security of knowing that Medicare will provide for all their needs, including covering lifesaving prescription drugs.”

Berkley warned seniors to be on the lookout for fraud. Medicare recipients don’t have to do anything to get the $250 check – once their drug costs for the year hit $2,830 the one-time check will be issued automatically. “Medicare sends check automatically and there are no forms to fill out,” Berkley said. “Do not give any personal information – Medicare, Social Security or bank account numbers – to anyone who calls about the rebate check.”

Making prescription drugs more affordable for seniors is only one of the many benefits for seniors included in the recently enacted health reform law. Other benefits for seniors include:

Providing free preventive care services under Medicare, beginning in 2011.
Strengthening Medicare by extending its solvency by an additional 12 years, from 2017 to 2029.
Improving seniors’ access to doctors.
Continuing to reduce waste, fraud and abuse.
Improving care by helping doctors communicate and coordinate.
Expanding home and community-based services to keep seniors in their homes, instead of in nursing homes.

Berkley Rejects Calls For Outside Investigation Of Israel Gaza Blockade Incident

June 8, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today released the following statement rejecting calls for an outside investigation of Israel’s actions in defense of its forces during the recent interception of a ship seeking to break the Gaza blockade.

“I join Israel in rejecting calls for an international investigation of the recent events related to Gaza. Israel, a strong democracy and America’s close ally, is perfectly capable of conducting a fair, credible investigation that meets international standards.

“The last time the UN investigated the conflict between Israel and Hamas, it produced the biased, anti-Israel Goldstone Report. This one-sided document accused Israel of war crimes, when its actions were in defense of innocent families facing a constant barrage of deadly Hamas missile attacks. Given this history, we have no reason to believe the UN would produce anything more balanced this time around.

“I find it even more galling that such calls are now being made, given the silence following North Korea’s horrific attack on a South Korean ship that killed 46 sailors. It is time the world focused on such real threats to peace, while recognizing Israel’s right to defend its civilian population against persistent terrorist threats.”

Berkley: BP Must Be Held Responsible For Oil Leak Clean-Up

Congresswoman Backs Probe into Possible Criminal, Civil Charges; Demands Corporate Interests Involved Cover Clean-up Costs

June 4, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today demanded that BP and other corporations involved bear full responsibility for the role they played in the massive Gulf oil spill. The Congresswoman also called for civil and criminal penalties against those found to be at fault and said that all clean-up and other costs must be paid from corporate coffers.

“Nevadans are watching in disgust as this oil pollution threatens America’s shorelines. They are outraged at what has happened and at the continued failure to stop this massive leak. In the aftermath of this environmental catastrophe, I support tough criminal and civil penalties as punishment for those found responsible. The corporate interests involved must also cover all clean-up costs, payments to families who lost loved ones and assistance for those whose livelihoods have been decimated as a result of these reckless actions,” said Berkley.

“The damage caused by this oil spill is another dramatic reminder of why America must end its dangerous reliance on oil as a major energy source. Whether it’s pollution, the high cost to families or the danger to the U.S. from dependence on Saudi Arabia and offshore drilling, America must kick the oil habit by increasing our use and development of solar and other forms of renewable energy. We need to find an alternative to oil that will power our cars and trucks affordably, while also helping to limit pollution. And we need to tighten regulations and enforce laws so we protect lives and make sure that BP and others can never again cause such massive harm to our oceans and our costal communities,” Berkley said.