Come Again? (NYT Editorial on Medicare fearmongering)

[quiet.american]

Found this to be an excellent editorial, not the least because it breaks down what is and isn't on the table regarding reducing the costs of Medicare:

Come Again?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/opinion/22sun1.html?hp

Republicans in both the Senate and the House have introduced bills that would eliminate the new Independent Payment Advisory Board, which is supposed to come up with ways to rein in excessive Medicare spending — and stiffen Congress’s spine.

Starting in 2014, whenever Medicare’s projected spending exceeds a target growth rate, the board of 15 members (drawn from a range of backgrounds, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate) will have to recommend reductions in payments to doctors and health care providers to bring spending back to target levels. These recommendations would become law unless Congress — not known for its political courage in such circumstances — passed an alternative proposal that would achieve comparable savings.

None of this poses any real threat to Medicare beneficiaries. The law prohibits the board from making proposals that would ration care, increase taxes, change Medicare benefits or eligibility, increase premiums or cost-sharing, or reduce low-income subsidies for drug coverage. It cannot call for a reduction in payments to hospitals before 2020.

If anything, we fear that the board’s power will be too limited. But its power to curb payments to other providers is projected to save $15.5 billion to $24 billion between 2015 and 2019.

The editorial goes on to name and shame Republicans for their usual lies/propaganda/dirty tricks around trying to scare the hell out of people about what's going to happen to Medicare, and I also couldn't agree more with the closing paragraph:

"Democrats have to counter the Republicans’ demagoguery with facts. Americans need to understand that if Senator Cornyn and others get their way, runaway health care costs will only get worse.

Democrats should not be shy about touting reform’s benefits — for improving Americans’ lives or its potential for reducing the deficit. They also need to tell Americans that there are even tougher choices to make ahead. Voters may find it refreshing to hear politicians tell them the truth."

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Hello! And amen.

[Cha]

1. Thank you for posting this on the fearmongering that's

going on with medicare, q.american.

I just kicked a thread in here on the fearmongering that's going on with Social Security..by anyone with an agenda.

[Hekate]

2. Needs a kick