Archive for April, 2009
Medicare Overhaul Proposed
Thursday, April 30th, 2009It’s not surprising that quality control and improving payment processes for Medicare were among the first items tackled by the Senate Finance Committee in their newly unveiled health care reform strategy, entitled “Description of Policy Options.“ Chairman Max Baucus told reporters: “Almost all health providers agree that the we are taking the right approach…The concerns are [...]
The Medicare = Health care Equation
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009There is a multitude of factors in the national health care reform equation but one thing is clear, the skyrocketing cost of health care is hurting all Americans, young and old alike. That’s why it’s critical that Congress treats Medicare as more than just a cash-cow to pay for system-wide health care reforms. Some of [...]
Medicare Should Lead Health care Reform
Friday, April 24th, 2009That’s the suggestion made by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and echoed by panelists at the first of the committee’s health care roundtable meetings. The Associated Press and Maggie Mahar provide the best reviews of this first Senate session, which focused on reimbursement and delivery reform. Baucus told attendees: “Medicare is the big driver here” [...]
Health Insurers prefer Astroturf over real Grassroots lobbying
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009For years, the health insurance industry, led by AHIP, has tried to foment a senior revolt to head off any attempts in Washington to trim back billions in outrageous industry Medicare Advantage subsidies provided by the Bush administration. AHIP created its own “grassroots” group, ”The Coalition for Medicare Choice” offering free lunches and door prizes at [...]
CUT SOCIAL SECURITY, PRIVATIZE MEDICARE…GOP PLAN FOR OUR FUTURE
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009House Republicans, led by Congressman Paul Ryan, released their budget proposal yesterday…yes, on April Fool’s day. Unfortunately, this plan was not offered in jest. And it’s potential affects on America’s seniors and their families is no joke. The GOP plan would cut Social Security. This proposal would means test Social Security, turning a social insurance [...]
The Recession Won’t Bankrupt Social Security
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009Let’s start off by stating the obvious…unless you’re an economist or policy analyst, the details of Social Security’s funding mechanisms, trust fund operations (OASI & DI) and projection methodology for both, are far beyond what the average American knows (or even cares to know) about the program. Unfortunately, this is exactly why it’s so easy [...]