In an opinion piece published this morning in TheHill.com, Prevention Institute Executive Director Larry Cohen makes the case that our federal government can take on Medicare as a means to address the budget deficit—but we have to do it effectively and compassionately, not by cutting coverage for our older adults.

The op-ed explains:

"Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) 2012 budget plan is selling out the next generation of seniors. His proposal would cap what each state is allocated to spend on Medicare and asks our elderly to figure out how to pay for their treatment with private insurance companies and a voucher with ever-shrinking value.

We can reduce the amount of money we need to spend on healthcare for seniors, and for everyone else, but penalizing our aging adults and raiding Medicare is not the way to do it. The fiscally responsible approach must include policies that keep people healthier now, in order to reduce the demand for medical care throughout their lives.

That approach is prevention."

Read the full piece here.