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Thom Hartmann: The Truth on the ''Real'' Lifespan of Medicare

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thomhartmann Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-11 11:27 AM
Original message
Thom Hartmann: The Truth on the ''Real'' Lifespan of Medicare
Edited on Mon Jul-18-11 11:28 AM by thomhartmann
 
Run time: 04:47
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMA07Vf-XdY
 
Posted on YouTube: July 18, 2011
By YouTube Member: TheBigPictureRT
Views on YouTube: 85
 
Posted on DU: July 18, 2011
By DU Member: thomhartmann
Views on DU: 1153
 
A Daily Take on the truth on the "real" lifespan of Medicare and what needs to
be done to substain that vital insurance program.

The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann on RT TV & FSTV "live" 9pm and 11pm check
www.thomhartmann.com/tv for local listings
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-11 11:38 AM
Response to Original message
1. Thank you, thomhartmann!
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midnight Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-11 11:39 AM
Response to Original message
2. K&R
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patrice Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-11 11:43 AM
Response to Original message
3. Medicare Fixed = still kind of high level, Thom. Look into Long-Term Care,
Edited on Mon Jul-18-11 11:43 AM by patrice
talk to Nurses and CNAs about what goes on in regards to quality of life issues and Risk Management, especially around "end-of-life" "care", that is, IF you can get any of them to talk to you for fear of losing their jobs.

Medicare may be more or less financially solvent now, but that DOES NOT MEAN that it doesn't need Reform.

Solidarity with U.S. Labor!
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PoiBoy Donating Member (842 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-11 11:52 AM
Response to Original message
4. Thank you Mr. Hartmann...
thank you...!

Thom Hartmann's is a voice that needs to be heard by all Americans....


:hi:


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stockholmer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-11 12:20 PM
Response to Original message
5. some major problems with the CEPR statement that Hartmann quotes
Edited on Mon Jul-18-11 12:30 PM by stockholmer
Here is an 'official document' (the Social Security and Medicare Trustee's Report signed by Tim Geithner, Hilda Solis, Kathleen Sebelius, etc) and totally contradicts what CEPR claims ("This is not true. There is no, as in zero, none, official document that says the program is not sustainable in its current form.")


http://www.ssa.gov/oact/trsum/index.html

"Projected long-run program costs for both Medicare and Social Security are not sustainable under currently scheduled financing, and will require legislative corrections if disruptive consequences for beneficiaries and taxpayers are to be avoided.

The financial challenges facing Social Security and Medicare should be addressed soon. If action is taken sooner rather than later, more options and more time will be available to phase in changes so that those affected can adequately prepare."


By the Trustees:

Timothy F. Geithner,
Secretary of the Treasury,
and Managing Trustee

Hilda L. Solis,
Secretary of Labor,
and Trustee

Kathleen Sebelius,
Secretary of Health
and Human Services,
and Trustee

Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner of
Social Security,
and Trustee

Charles P. Blahous III,
Trustee

Robert D. Reischauer,
Trustee



Specifically they said: "The projected date of HI Trust Fund exhaustion is 2024, five years earlier than estimated in last year’s report, at which time dedicated revenues would be sufficient to pay 90 percent of HI costs."

"For the sixth consecutive year, a "Medicare funding warning" is being triggered, signaling that projected non-dedicated sources of revenues -- primarily general revenues -- will soon account for more than 45 percent of Medicare’s outlays."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

also the CEPR makes major assumptions based upon further assumptions by the CBO:


The Medicare estimates only apply if Congress stops doing "Doc" fixes and drops physician fees by 29% next year.


http://www.cms.gov/ReportsTrustFunds/downloads/tr2011.pdf

from Section III:

"Most of the ACA-related cost saving is attributable to a reduction in the annual payment updates for most Medicare services (other than physicians’ services and drugs) by total economy multifactor productivity growth, which is projected to average 1.1 percent per year. The report notes that the long-term viability of this provision is debatable.
"In addition, an almost 30-percent reduction in Medicare payment rates for physician services is assumed to be implemented in 2012 , notwithstanding experience to the contrary. "






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spooked911 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-11 05:12 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. you seem to be quibbling
the only thing that mentions unsustainability is the last quote, which only refers to a provision, not to all of medicare.
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stockholmer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-19-11 06:07 AM
Response to Reply #6
8. not quibbling, unfortunately, those 2 reports completely gut Hartmann's and CEPR's claims
There were signed by major Democrats in Obama's Cabinet, and rely on the 'non-partisan' CBO for data.


I am not happy about this, believe me, as all this does is further weaken the US, making world war more likely, as the empiric war machine will lash out in the death-throws emanating from the collapse of American-hegemonic global economic system.

More germane for Americans living in the US, millions will have even worse health care than they do now. It is an an all-around clusterfuck, as the banksters simply continue to further consolidate wealth ever-upward to a narrower and narrower uber-class of neo pharaohs. The rest of the populace gets to pay for the banks and trans-national corporation losses via the yoke of chattel debt peonage. Corporate fascism reigns.
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spooked911 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-11 05:13 PM
Response to Original message
7. this was a brilliant segment, imo
every American should be made to watch it.
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