If the Medicare cuts of 21% go through with a Democratic majority...

[madfloridian]

we are the ones who will be blamed. NOT Jim Bunning, not the Republicans....but us. The Democrats have been pussy-footing around this issue and playing political games with it.

If those cuts remain, we will lose our majority this year.

Those are payments to doctors, who get very little from Medicare as it is.

The fact this was allowed to happen shows a mindset in both parties of a lack of concern for the elderly.

We already knew that Obama was calling for huge cuts to Medicare.

Reporting from Washington -- Under pressure to pay for his ambitious reshaping of the nation's healthcare system, President Obama today will outline $313 billion in Medicare and Medicaid spending cuts over the next decade to help cover the cost of expanding coverage to tens of millions of America's uninsured.

Among the proposed policy changes outlined by the president are:

* Reductions in payments to providers to reflect increased efficiencies in the system, which the White House estimates could save $110 billion over the next decade.

* Cuts in federal subsidies to hospitals that treat large populations of uninsured patients, estimated to save $106 billion over the next decade.

* Cuts in how much the federal government pays pharmaceutical companies to provide prescription drugs to seniors and others, estimated to save $75 billion over the next decade.

We already knew that one of Obama's main advisors on health care, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, brother of Rahm, wants to phase out Medicare and put everyone gradually on vouchers for health care.

Zeke Emanuel is a health care advisor to Obama. Wants to phase out Medicare and Medicaid.

The Guaranteed Healthcare Access Plan will be administered by a National Health Board and regional boards modeled on the Federal Reserve System with fiscal, administrative, and political independence to make tough decisions based on the merits, not special interest lobbying. There will also be an Institute for Technology and Outcomes Assessment to assess the effectiveness of new drugs, devices, procedures, and other interventions. It will also assess and make publicly available data on the clinical outcomes of patients in different insurance companies. This will permit comparative shopping based on real quality results.

No one (I think he means to say "anyone") receiving Medicare, Medicaid, or any other government program will not be forced out, but there will be no new enrollees. People who turn 65 will simply stay in the Guaranteed Healthcare Access Plan. The special tax benefits related to employer based coverage will be eliminated and most employers will stop offering health insurance.

No new enrollees under his plan.

Did the planned cuts for cardiovascular treatments go through as planned? Anyone have a cardiac problem, or parents with a cardiac problem? Any thoughts on the payments being cut 50%?

Payments for cardiovascular Medicare patients may go down by 50% under HHS new rules on January 1.

On Jan. 1, Medicare patients across the state of Florida will confront a new reality in cardiovascular care. The Obama administration released the final 2010 Physician Fee Schedule on Nov. 1, severely cutting cardiovascular payments for Medicare patients - some by as much as 50 percent. These cuts have nothing to do with the battle over health care reform currently taking place in Congress.

This new rule has taken place without public debate or approval. The cuts have been mandated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the direction of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. These are the primary tools for early diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Many of the tests will now be done in a hospital where the costs (and co-pays) are higher.

Such drastic cuts will inevitably force some cardiology offices to close because the cost of equipment, supplies, and salaries for office staff cannot be sustained.

And now a Democratic majority is blaming one man for a severe cut of 21% in payments to doctors??

Spare me the excuses. Fix the Senate, do what must be done.

People are not going to blame Jim Bunning or the Republicans. I don't blame them myself. There has been too much game playing by politicians over a program that allows seniors to have decent medical care.

Take the approximately 1000 dollars that goes to Medicare Advantage private plans for each patient they snag...last I saw at the AMA site it was a 922 dollar subsidy to private companies for each patient they snag. Take that and give it to the doctors.

Stop the 21% cut in payments to doctors or we WILL lose in November.