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In Politico, Senators Richard Burr and Tom Coburn present a criticism of Obama's health care policies that is all too rare among Republicans. They do warn that health care is becoming too expensive and that Medicare is unsustainable, but they don't stop at complaining about the cost. In fact, they worry that Obamacare cut Medicare by too much: 

Unfortunately, President Barack Obama's health care overhaul reduced [Medicare Advantage] payments - spending the money instead on new bureaucracies and government programs. As a result, according to the Medicare actuary, by 2017, roughly half of seniors who like their MA plan probably would lose it.

...

It also took about $530 billion from Medicare to spend on new programs not for seniors. The law created an independent payment board of unelected Medicare czars, who can reduce reimbursements to health care providers who care for seniors.

All these changes are wrongheaded and will hurt seniors’ access to care.

In other words, the concern is that the quality of care provided to seniors will suffer, not just that it will be too expensive. By cutting Medicare Advantage, which is a program that allows Medicare recipients to choose private plans, and decreasing payments to traditional Medicare, Obama's lowering the quality of care without addressing the fiscal problems posed by Medicare. 

For some reason, Republican criticisms of Obamacare have focused almost solely on the cost of the bill and the possibility that it will dampen job creation. Those concerns are valid, but they pale in comparison to the harm Obamacare will do in terms of limiting people's health care choices -- especially for seniors. 

View all comments (3) | Leave a comment

RJ| 12.1.11 @ 6:40PM

Good point. The GOP has been too limited in addressing the failings of ObamaCare and other Democratic initiatives. Thanks for raising this point - it isn't just the increased cost which is a problem, but the likely decline in the quality and scope of health services.

Occam's Tool| 12.1.11 @ 8:12PM

Government should get OUT as much as possible---Medicaid and Medicare ruined the compensation set up by overloading private insurers with costs caused by politicians promising more than they could pay for.

Nite| 12.1.11 @ 8:32PM

The unconfirmed unelected IPAB (reports to Obama instead of Congress) will not only cut payments to Docs and Hospitals, but will cut benefits. Seniors will be lucky to even find a physician to see them. It is almost that way now. When there is a plan by this group to even cut Hospice care, then you know there will be many Seniors (without family) die alone and in agony. Death Panels are here now.

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More Blog Posts by Joseph Lawler

http://spectator.org/blog/2011/12/01/burr-and-coburns-critique-of-o

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