While Republicans in Congress are trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the Obama administration is stepping up its public relations campaign to promote the program's benefits for Medicare beneficiaries.

As part of this campaign, Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Susan Johnson, visited the Ballard Senior Center on Friday, Jan 21, to discuss Medicare under the Affordable Care Act.

It was a packed house on Friday morning as many seniors were interested to hear exactly how the Health Care Reform affects them and their medicare.

Johnson warmly received the seniors with two boxes of donut holes. The donut holes symbolized the three million donut hole recipients. To date, three million eligible beneficiaries who fell into the drug coverage gap known as the “donut hole” during 2010 received a one-time $250 rebate check.

Johnson said the Affordable Care Act is taking an additional step for those who fall into the “donut hole” by providing them with a 50 percent discount on covered brand name medications until the gap is closed in 2020.

Johnson’s visit was to highlight the Affordable Care Act provisions that went into effect this month and to clarify any confusions.

“It’s taken the country a while to really sift through the myths, fears and reality of the Affordable Care Act,” Johnson said. “But this act is about marrying really good service care with good insurance to get to quality not just quantity.”

Johnson said a new package started in January which includes no more out-of-pocket costs for the “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam, Medicare-covered annual wellness visits, a 10 percent bonus for primary care physicians to accept Medicare patients and provide certain services, and preventative services.

Johnson said the best way to save money is preventative medicine and highlighted the importance of personal fitness, flue shots, and screenings.

“If you haven’t gotten a mammogram because it was too expensive, go get it now,” Johnson said. “Need a colonoscopy? Go get it!”

Some of the attending seniors expressed concerns about the drug tiers, hidden costs and supplement Medicare.

“When you come to Ballard, you run the risk of running into people with ties to Scandinavia. Places like Denmark have a much better Medicare system,” one attendee commented.

Having lived in Ballard, Johnson is familiar with Ballard and its ties to countries with socialized medicine.

“Socialized medicine is civilized medicine,” Johnson said quoting a former colleague. “The Affordable Care Act is taking two umbrella steps forward to civilized medicine.”

An attendee in favor of the health care reform asked what they can do to ensure it won’t be repealed.

“When I look out on you I don’t just see Medicare beneficiaries, I see you as leaders and elders. You’re the nucleus of families,” Johnson said and encouraged senior to share their stories about how they’ve benefitted from the Act.

“We don’t want this to be a best-kept-secret,” Johnson said. “Talk to your governor, talk to your representatives or write a letter to the editor.”

Johnson reminded that even with all the talk about repealing the act, Democrats still control the Senate and President Barack Obama has the power to veto the repeal.

“This administration stands four-square behind you and the care this will bring you,” Johnson said.

For more information, please visit www.medicare.gov.