<nobr>Sep 26, 2003</nobr>

ERIC, Business Groups and Unions Urge Committee to Pass Erie Provision in Medicare Reform Bill (Letters Attached)

ERIC along with several leading business and unions groups delivered a strong message to the Medicare conferees in support of Sec. 631 ( the ErieCounty provision ) in the Senate Medicare Reform Bill (S.1). Section 631 would clarify that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) does not prohibit an employer from providing health benefits solely to pre-Medicare retirees or from providing different benefits to pre-Medicare retirees than to Medicare-eligible retirees

In a letter to Conference Co-chairs Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Bill Thomas (R-CA), as employer organizations and unions, we are united in supporting this provision because it would protect an employer s ability to provide critical health benefits to pre-Medicare retirees. Without section 631, we have grave concerns that employers will be forced to follow the result in Erie County, which was a reduction of benefits for pre-Medicare retirees."

Text Files:

Erie Conferee Letters to Grassley & Thomas

Union Letter to Senate Finance Cmte. Leadership

Union Letter to Ways & Means Leadership

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