Improving Medicare Support for Seniors

Navigating Medicare shouldn’t be a frustrating, hours-long process for the seniors who rely on it. That’s why it’s unacceptable that it’s been 15 years since Congress received accurate and up-to-date information on the effectiveness of the 1-800-Medicare line. In that time, the program has grown more complex, the number of beneficiaries has increased, and Congress has been left without data on wait times, staff performance, or whether seniors are actually being served.

That's why I joined Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz and Congressman Lou Correa in introducing the Improving Medicare Services Act. This bipartisan bill would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study Medicare's customer service operations and report its findings to Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This review would include wait times, staff competency, contractor performance, and whether service is improving or getting worse.

Accessing benefits like Medicare that seniors have paid into their whole lives shouldn’t be difficult. Seniors deserve better, and this bill is an important step toward building a system that puts patients first.

This legislation is part of my Blueprint for a Better America and builds on the six health care bills I've already introduced to lower costs, take on insurance companies, and expand access to care for working families across mid-Michigan and America.