In his health care speech to a joint session of Congress earlier
this month, President Obama said that his proposed cuts to
Medicare "will ensure that you – America's seniors – get the
benefits you've been promised."
But Douglas Elmendorf, director of the Congressional Budget
Office, disagrees. He
testified yesterday that the proposed changes would "would
reduce the extra benefits that would be made available to
beneficiaries through Medicare Advantage plans." That is, the
privately-administered plans that will see a funding cut to help
pay for health care legislation.
I've been of two minds about the recent Medicare debate. On the
one hand, I worry about the long-term impact of the Republican
decision to make protecting Medicare from any cuts a focal point
of their opposition to health care legislation. Not only does it
distract from other arguments that attack the very idea of
government-run health care, but it helps perpetuate the third
rail status of a program that, if its growth is left unchecked,
will bankrupt the country. If Democrats are unable to touch
Medicare, then there's absolutely no hope that somewhere down the
line a conservative administration would be able to do so.
At the same time, I do think it's important to point out that
Obama is lying through his teeth when he says that cutting
Medicare by $500 billion to as much as $622 billion will have
absolutely no effect on anybody's benefits. Additionally, it
would be one thing if Obama were proposing these cuts as part of
a larger entitlement reform, but instead he's proposing them in
the name of creating a new entitlement.
I have to agree with you on the dicotomy presented here by Repubs
promising the seniors they will never have to give up any
benefits. How to ever reform when the time comes to rein in
Medicare? Problem...
jr| 9.24.09 @ 5:37PM
I would like to see Medicare taken apart piece by piece and
examined by good people - sorry no lawyers or porkiticians - all
aspects. I have received Medicare benefits as I am one of those
that might fit the death panel group. I know that I have gotten
treatments that cover the rear of doctors but that is the name of
the game. If a group made up of people from Johns Hopkins, Mayo
Clinic, etc. were to draw up a minimum scale of treatments for
disease A, B, C, etc., ard publish that as recommendations for
medicine to follow, I would be satisfied. Anything beyond the
minimum would place the professional at risk for
non-reimbusement. That would also allow me to police the doctor
to make sure that he didn't over- treat me. Currently, most
people do not know what should be expected for treatment, nor is
there a good place to find such guidelines. Currently, the
politicians are two poles apart. The Dimocrats want to continue
as is but raise taxes and the Republicans, when in power did
little.
c. j. acworth| 9.24.09 @ 6:10PM
The 5-600 billion that Obama wants to cut is money that he says
is "misspent", or is "waste,fraud, and abuse. " If so, let him
push for a stand-alone bill to cut it. If we then see no adverse
effect on benefits, he will be proclaimed a genius for having
done what no-one else has ever done, and have enough credibility
to get my support for the rest of his plan. Otherwise, no sale.
birmingham| 9.24.09 @ 11:00AM
I have to agree with you on the dicotomy presented here by Repubs promising the seniors they will never have to give up any benefits. How to ever reform when the time comes to rein in Medicare? Problem...
jr| 9.24.09 @ 5:37PM
I would like to see Medicare taken apart piece by piece and examined by good people - sorry no lawyers or porkiticians - all aspects. I have received Medicare benefits as I am one of those that might fit the death panel group. I know that I have gotten treatments that cover the rear of doctors but that is the name of the game. If a group made up of people from Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, etc. were to draw up a minimum scale of treatments for disease A, B, C, etc., ard publish that as recommendations for medicine to follow, I would be satisfied. Anything beyond the minimum would place the professional at risk for non-reimbusement. That would also allow me to police the doctor to make sure that he didn't over- treat me. Currently, most people do not know what should be expected for treatment, nor is there a good place to find such guidelines. Currently, the politicians are two poles apart. The Dimocrats want to continue as is but raise taxes and the Republicans, when in power did little.
c. j. acworth| 9.24.09 @ 6:10PM
The 5-600 billion that Obama wants to cut is money that he says is "misspent", or is "waste,fraud, and abuse. " If so, let him push for a stand-alone bill to cut it. If we then see no adverse effect on benefits, he will be proclaimed a genius for having done what no-one else has ever done, and have enough credibility to get my support for the rest of his plan. Otherwise, no sale.