That's right. $500 billion in medicare reductions, based on more efficiency in the system.
A Basis Is Seen for Some Health Plan Fears Among the Elderly - NYTimes.com
Bills now in Congress would squeeze savings out of Medicare, a lifeline for the elderly, on the assumption that doctors and hospitals can be more efficient.
President Obama has sold health care legislation to Congress and the country as a way to slow the growth of federal health spending, no less than as a way to regulate the insurance market and cover the uninsured.
Mr. Obama has also said Medicare and private insurers could improve care and save money by following advice from a new federal panel of medical experts on “what treatments work best.”
The zeal for cutting health costs, combined with proposals to compare the effectiveness of various treatments and to counsel seniors on end-of-life care, may explain why some people think the legislation is about rationing, which could affect access to the most expensive services in the final months of life.
Well, duh. What a pipe dream.
Of course, there is no way for either Party's health plan ideas to stop rising medical costs. If you want good and constantly improving care, you've got to pay for it.
Where are our priorities?
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