More Bush Administration Attacks on Medicare

[Omaha Steve]

Full story: http://blog.aflcio.org/2006/07/19/more-bush-administrat... /

Bush & Co.

Jul 19

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More Bush Administration Attacks on Medicare

The Bush administration is spending billions and billions of dollars to shower wealthy donors and the excessively rich with tax cuts—$70 billion in the most recent round and more than $760 billion if a House-passed bill that eliminates taxes on multimillion dollar estates ever becomes law.

But it has to get the money to pay for those cuts from some place, and as usual, those most in need are paying the Bush bill. In the Bush administration’s latest attack on working family programs, Bush wants to cut some $35.6 billion in Medicare over the next five years and is getting ready to slash payments to hospital doctors who care for Medicare patients.

Under the Bush administration’s new payment formula, hospitals could see their reimbursements fall by as much as 30 percent. The American Medical Association (AMA) says Medicare payments to doctors who treat seniors could drop as much as 37 percent over the next nine years. These cuts come at the same time health care costs climb and climb to record levels every year.

Snip: The AMA says that a recent survey of doctors found that 45 percent say they would either reduce the number of Medicare patients they treat or stop seeing them all together if the Bush administration’s cuts go through.

AMA President Dr. William G. Plested III says:

Physicians want to serve America’s seniors. Unfortunately, drastic Medicare cuts will force physicians to make difficult practice decisions. The nation’s disabled patients, its seniors, its retiring baby boomers deserve better. Congress needs to stop the physician payment cuts and provide payments on the cost of providing care.

[JAYJDF]

1. How do the freepers rationalize this?

I guess I need to ask one of my repub buds but get tired of hearing fox news reruns.

[OzarkDem]

2. Our health care system is teetering towards collapse

Drug prices are going through the roof, overall health care costs are rising, more and more people are losing health insurance and the hospitals and doctors are being asked to shoulder much of the burden of uncompensated care.