tazzygirl
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Ahem... repeatedly i have pointed out where the Medicare cuts are coming from, and its not from the benefit pool unless your looking at the medicare advantage which pays for health club memberships... and its the subsidy they are cutting. But, because its christmas, i will repost the most recent.
quote:
Again, your opinion, willbe... and not taken too seriously around here.
But,., just a hint... referring to the Medicare cuts...
Incredible Shrinking Benefits?
After celebrating the accomplishments of older Americans, the narrator gets straight to the scary stuff: "Congress plans to pay for health care reform by cutting $500 billion from Medicare." The ad doesn’t mention that the $500 billion is a gross figure that counts only proposed cuts while ignoring any increases, including a big increase the bill proposes in projected payments to doctors. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the House bill would result in "savings" of $219 billion after all increases and decreases are netted out. The House bill would trim projected increases in payments for hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and others, including home health care providers and suppliers of motor-driven wheelchairs. But it also proposes what CBO estimates is a $245 billion increase in spending for doctors, by canceling a scheduled 21 percent cut in physician payments. None of the "savings" or "cuts" (whichever you prefer) come from reducing current or future benefit levels for seniors. AARP, in a "Myths versus Facts" rundown of what’s being said about the health care bills, contradicts the claim made by 60 Plus:
quote:
AARP: Fact: None of the health care reform proposals being considered by Congress would cut Medicare benefits or increase your out-of-pocket costs for Medicare services.
We can’t resist noting that Democrats are getting a taste of their own medicine here. Late in the 2008 campaign, Republican presidential nominee John McCain’s advisers spoke of holding down the rise in future Medicare costs to pay for part of his health care proposals. Although a McCain aide was quoted as saying no cuts were being proposed in benefit levels, the Obama campaign ran two ads falsely accusing McCain of proposing benefit cuts. One said McCain’s plan "means a 22 percent cut in benefits. … Nursing home care could suffer and so could your choice of doctor." The other said seniors would "receive fewer services, and get lower quality care." We called Obama’s claims against McCain "bogus" and "false" and also an example of "Senior Scare." The same now goes for 60 Plus’ claims against Obama’s plan.
http://www.factcheck.org/2009/08/more-senior-scare/
On his Web site, the senator offers more detail about the Medicare savings proposals he opposes, saying: "These reductions include $120 billion to the Medicare Advantage program, $150 billion to providers including hospitals, hospice, and nursing homes, and $23 billion in unspecified decreases to be determined by an ‘Independent Medicare Advisory board.’ "
As we’ve written before, the reductions in the Medicare Advantage program could lead to a cut in the extra benefits that many of these beneficiaries receive — cuts valued at about $43 per month in 2019, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Seniors in Medicare Advantage, about 22 percent of those on Medicare or 10 million seniors, get coverage through private plans, and they often receive some bonus benefits, such as a gym membership or a reduced premium. They’re able to get these extras because Medicare pays extra — 14 percent more per beneficiary than it does for regular Medicare beneficiaries, and it’s that perceived overpayment that Democrats propose to eliminate. The CBO has estimated that the move would change the value of the extra benefits Medicare Advantage participants get, but they would not receive fewer benefits than the rest of seniors who aren’t on the Advantage plans. The bill does add some extras for Medicare beneficiaries, eliminating copays and deductibles for preventive services, for example.
Three seniors groups have come out in opposition to McCain’s amendment: AARP, the National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare and the Alliance for Retired Americans, which, like the other groups, said that the bill "does not cut Medicare benefits. With the expected rising costs of Medicare, the legislation slows the rate of the program’s growth without reducing benefits."
http://www.factcheck.org/2009/12/mccain-robocall-sounds-familiar/
To insist all the cuts to Medicare will affect only Physicians is extremely misleading.
Until the Senate votes and passes its own version, its too early to talk about whats in it. Too many variables.. too much can be changed last minute.. and too many trusting what others are telling us is in it.
< Message edited by tazzygirl -- 12/25/2009 10:01:16 AM >
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If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.
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RE: Health Care Bill passes the Senate! - 
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