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Critics: Not enough health cost reductions
Legislation emerging from the Democratic-controlled Congress shy away from price controls and instead focus on President Barack Obama's preference for moving away from Medicare's fee-for-service payments, meant to break the cycle of rewarding providers for doing more procedures. Instead, proposals would establish a coordinated system that pays doctors and hospitals for gaining better results, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
But the newspaper said critics say measures to control costs are tepid and likely ineffective, such as the Senate plan's refusal to eliminate tax exemptions for employer-sponsored coverage and a watered-down proposal to set up a new Medicare cost-cutting commission.
The Post reported that healthcare cost reduction advocates also contend that moves to "save" $110 billion by simply cutting reimbursements to the private Medicare Advantage program hardly represent a fundamental refashioning of the healthcare system.
"These bills do very little in terms of reining in long-term cost growth," Ralph Neas, head of the non-partisan National Coalition on Health Care, told the newspaper, adding, "There is not enough in the public sector and virtually none in the private sector."
Copyright 2009 by United Press International
This news arrived on: 11/04/2009
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Posted Comments:
11-06-2009 10:30
Been There Done That wrote:
Health Care Govt Takeover
In my much more than short life I have learned the one thing you can take to the bank -- when the Govt gets involved costs will raise. We need to get back to puritan ways, Govt. is very small and the States run whatever the people wish to hand over to them. At a state level, you can really know as nearly - really know - as is possible who you should vote for and thus the people's wishes will weigh in heavy.(can remember no instances of it being otherwise).
11-06-2009 09:33
Marty B wrote:
Health Care Weak
Unfortunately, our politicians tend toward watering down bills such as these to not rock the boat with constituents...more concerned with their position than doing what is right. We need substantive reform and reduction in costs of health care and insurnace but it appears taxpayers are going to get more fees and fines and burden of paying healthcare for the poor and illegals (the immigration bill in Congress is absolutely absurd!). For me, I will measure Congress progress on both bills and what they accomplish that is value adding/ cost reducing to the public. Without MAJOT acoomplishment, I will be pushing for voting everyone involved out of office.... I also here Republicans claiming recent voting upsets in favor of Republican governance is a mandate from the public. What BS.....people get voted out based on what they do or do not do. I hate partisan politics and vote my conscience for the candidate that allegedly will do the most for America.
11-06-2009 09:22
Redneck wrote:
"Healthcare again?
All these bills have the same things in common! And even when our fearless leader says they aren't in there and tries to get them passed without inspection---they are still there!!! Cumpulsory automatic deductions from your bank account! Fines and jail if you "don't pay"? I guess that means your account is empty? Guaranteed free healthcare for minoritys and by defination "illegals", exemption from payment for minoritys, And whatever you call it-- rationing of healthcare for seniors and the seriously and terminally ill! But guaranteed healthcare only for minoritys! That would mean that as the millions of aliens flock into this country for free healthcare- (Remember last week Obama changed the law so anyone who has aids can come here and of course get free healthcare)-THEY cannot be denyed! So when the costs get high enough---rationing for the only group not guaranteed! But still emptying of your bank account and jail when you have no money left!! That's a simple reading of those bills! Now I ask---since they always put these back into all the bills----What is the real agenda???? now google- prison planet - videos of speeches and links to actual legislation and your popular politicans advocating ?????? Look and compare to the aims of these healthcare bills!!
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