wrote in message
...
On Tue, 23 Mar 2010 11:18:14 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

The problem is they can only project the effect on the budget based on
the fantasy numbers the congress sends them. Things like saying they
will actually cut Medicare by a half trillion. That will be "fixed" by
eliminating the cuts.

How are they going to cut Medicare? Medicare people vote at a higher
percentage than others. And they already said they are going to fix the
drug donut hole. How is that going to reduce costs?

It's more about cutting fraud/abuse than cutting benefits, although for
the
rich that should certainly happen. I believe Sen. Coburn rightly pointed
this out (reducing fraud/abuse), during the Healthcare summit with Obama.

They have been trying to cut fraud and abuse in government since
George Washington and the scammers always manage to stay one step
ahead of the cops.

So that justifies giving up on the problem? There will always be crime.

In the case of Medicare, in the 80s Medicare did tighten up on fraud
and doctors stopped taking Medicare patients because the paperwork was
too cumbersome and Medicare was "slow pay".
When they streamlined the payments, fraud soared again.
Right now they call Medicare "pay and chase". They pay out
questionable claims and chase the guy after it is proven to be fraud.
By then the crook is long gone.

And, it can be addressed, but there's no absolute cure. Doesn't mean we
should sit on our hands.


Fixing the donut hole will probably help in the long run, since lots of
people in that situation stop buying the meds they need, they get sick,
and
end up having more expensive procedures.

Personally I think most seniors are over medicated in the first place.


Fortunately, you're not the one prescribing in the dr. office.

--
Nom=de=Plume