De La Cruz Leads Bill to Improve Access to Medicare Services

WASHINGTON -Today, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) introduced the Improving Medicare Services Act alongside Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46) and Rep. Tom Barrett (MI-07). The bipartisan legislation willimprove the 1-800-Medicare customer service line, helping seniors and beneficiaries navigate questions regarding billing, claims, medical records, and costs.

"Many seniors across the nation rely on the 1-800-Medicare call line for assistance regarding their healthcare coverage, and wemust ensurethis service is meeting their needs. This study will highlight where improvements are needed and updatedata to make informed decisions on behalf of Medicare recipients. With this legislation, seniors will receive the high-quality service they need." - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz

"It is important to provide seniors with the access to healthcare resources they've earned and deserve. They shouldn't be forced to wait countless hours for answers to get the care they need. It's unacceptable to hear that seniors in Orange County are enduring long wait times, receiving unhelpful responses, and experiencing poor service quality. I partnered with Rep. Monica De La Cruz and Rep. Rom Barrett in introducing this legislation to make sure all Medicare beneficiaries get timely, accurate, and professional help whenever they call 1-800-Medicare. Our seniors deserve no less." - Congressman Lou Correa

"There is nothing more frustrating than sitting on hold for hours to not get the help you need - especially when the help you need is simply accessing your Medicare. Congress needs to take every step necessary to ensure Medicare services and assistance are easily accessible for those who rely on it, and this bill is an important step to fulfilling that promise. I'm grateful to Congresswoman De La Cruz and Congressman Correa for their work on this legislation and I look forward to continuing to build a system that puts patients first." - Congressman Tom Barrett

Background:

The Improving Medicare Services Act will require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study evaluating the operations of the 1-800-Medicare call line, specifically focusing on wait times, customer satisfaction, and staff performance. This will be the first study conducted in over 15 years.

The study will also review whether past recommendations have improved the service and analyze the system's current performance to identify ways to increase efficiency and accessibility for users.