Home  |  Text Only  |  RSS Feed
U.S. Senator Jim DeMint
Jim's Journal
Previous Next
  Browse By:  
Democrats' Medicare Strategy Puts Millions of Seniors at Risk
Posted by Jim's Staff 06/12/2008 - 11:18:36 AM
Currently, the Senate is considering legislation that would prevent physicians who treat Medicare patients from facing a 10-percent cut in their reimbursement on June 30. America’s seniors, who depend on Medicare, cannot afford for their doctors to take such a significant cut that will undoubtedly lead to decreased access to health care.

Both Republicans and Democrats are committed to saving seniors from this catastrophe, and both sides have introduced legislation that increases physician reimbursement under Medicare. But once again, Democrats see this as opportunity to put politics ahead of the best interest of the country. Democrats have used this debate as a vehicle to highlight their opposition to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. In order to pay for their bill, the Democrats have slashed payments to MA plans, and in response, President Bush has indicated that he will veto the legislation. Not only does the Democrat strategy put doctors at risk, it puts the benefits of more than 10 million seniors and disabled Americans at risk.

Furthermore, the Democrat legislation includes provisions that will directly increase the financial strain on taxpayers’ wallets by expanding benefits, reducing cost sharing and expanding eligibility for certain benefits and services. And in some cases, it seeks to hide the true costs of these changes by delaying their full effect to outside of the budget window or assuming unrealistic reductions to physician payments. This is completely irresponsible, especially at a time when the Medicare Trust Fund will be completely depleted in 10 years...
Click here to read more
Leave a Comment Here Permalink Print This Email This
Previous Next
  Browse By:  
Jim's Blog RSS
Featured Posts
12/11 NRO: Q&A; With DeMint on Auto Bailout
12/10 GOP Senators Voice Opposition to Auto Bailout Proposal
12/10 DeMint Discusses Auto Bailout on Cavuto
12/01 WSJ: 'America's Other Auto Industry'
11/19 DeMint Is 'One of the GOP’s Rising Stars'
Issues
Border Security
Economic Growth
Education
Family Values
Health Care
National Security
Retirement Security
Transportation & Technology
Veterans
Wasteful Spending
Blog Roll
* Region 1 Blog - Ashley Holbrook
* Region 2 Blog - Ian Headley
* Region 3 Blog - Susan Aiken
* Region 4 Blog - Mark Cothran
* Region 5 Blog - Kelly Long
* Region 6 Blog - Tim Lollis
-
CATO @ Liberty
Green Eyeshade
House RSC
OMB Earmark Database
Porkbusters
The Foundry