08 August 2012 | Washington D.C.

Dr. Gary A. Puckrein, President and CEO of the National Minority Quality Forum The Forum), today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ announcement that 2013 Medicare Part D premiums will remain at $30 per month:

“For many Americans, the affordability of healthcare services is what ultimately determines how effectively they can manage their personal health and improve their quality of life. This is especially important for prescription drugs since, more often than not, adherence to life-preserving medications depends on access.The fact that the 2013 average premium for Part D beneficiaries is projected to be 50 percent lower than originally projected in 2004 is a testament to how the government and industry are improving health outcomes without increasing out of pocket costs for beneficiaries. “All Americans deserve the chance at longer, healthier lives. Ensuring consistent, reliable and unchanged access to affordable care options is critical to eliminating health disparities in our country, especially among minority communities. As America’s significant Medicare-eligible population continues to grow, it is now our duty to ensure that we preserve programs such as Medicare Part D to further prevent and manage chronic disease, while reducing healthcare costs across the board.”

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About The Forum

The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, non-partisan, independent research and education organization. The vision of NMQF is a health services research, delivery and financing system that provides quality and effective health services to the biodiverse American general population of the 21st century. NMQF helps assure that national and local quality improvement initiatives are informed by scientific evidence, and place a priority on the quality of care and patient outcomes in all populations.