As Congress members and President Barack Obama continue to grapple with the so-called "fiscal cliff" of spending cuts and tax hikes, one executive at Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America believes increasing the eligibility age of Medicare must be considered and enacted instead of cutting payments to hospitals, according to a Nashville Public Radio report.
HCA Senior Vice President Vic Campbell spoke at an investor conference in New York earlier this week and fielded a question from a person who asked if the Medicare eligibility age should be elevated from 65 to 70.
"We really believe it needs to move in that direction," Mr. Campbell said in the Nashville Public Radio report. "Historically, there's been a lot of resistance, but I do believe we'll see it move. Unfortunately, probably not to the numbers you're talking about. But I think it's highly likely it moves to 67."
House Republicans have insisted raising the eligibility age of Medicare must be included in the deficit deal talks. However, Democratic leaders, such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have said that option would cost the country more and will not be part of any deal.
HCA Senior Vice President Vic Campbell spoke at an investor conference in New York earlier this week and fielded a question from a person who asked if the Medicare eligibility age should be elevated from 65 to 70.
"We really believe it needs to move in that direction," Mr. Campbell said in the Nashville Public Radio report. "Historically, there's been a lot of resistance, but I do believe we'll see it move. Unfortunately, probably not to the numbers you're talking about. But I think it's highly likely it moves to 67."
House Republicans have insisted raising the eligibility age of Medicare must be included in the deficit deal talks. However, Democratic leaders, such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have said that option would cost the country more and will not be part of any deal.
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