A Bill That Actually Reforms Medicare

Tomorrow, the Senate will consider H.R. 2, a Medicare-reform bill that has already acquired a classic Beltway acronym, MACRA. Conservatives should give their full support: According to a report released last week, MACRA not only would pay for itself but would result in large net savings to the Medicare program over time, reducing unfunded liabilities and preventing massive new debt.

To oversimplify it, MACRA does two things to Medicare. First, it replaces a 21 percent planned payment cut to doctors — known as the “sustainable growth rate” or SGR — with a more durable payment system. (This is the devastating cut that has been repeatedly delayed with the “doc fix.”) Second, the bill strengthens means testing in Medicare and requires “Medigap” plans — which cover expenses Medicare does not, encouraging overuse — to expose patients to more costs when they seek treatment.

Some senators have expressed concerns with the bill related to its cost. The Congressional Budget Office projects that MACRA will spend more in the first decade than it saves – $141 billion. This was confirmed by the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) report last week. However, that same report confirms what conservative supporters of MACRA have been saying all along: Over the long term, the new payment regime will cost no more than current law — which assumes the 21 percent SGR cut — and yields even greater savings to the Medicare system.

We are Medicare and Tricare Life (Ret. Military over 65) both gov’t run. There is no where else to go. Not only do we have to deal with the GUTTED Medicare but DOD MANDATES! And those regs change with out notice at the dispensary were we are DOD MANDATED to get daily scripts or use the CRAPPY, FRAUD prone EXPRESS SCRIPTS. Either way it is cumbersome. Nor does hubby qualify for VA, between his SS, mine and his Navy Pension we make more than the $38K cap.

TRICARE Life co-pays just went up again.

You fill at the dispensary that is NOT handicap friendly, it was never designed to be. You REFILL out of Pensacola takes 5 days, paper scripts REQUIRED.

Express Scripts if you mail it in, because your doc does not fax it to them, is a 3 week process for a first fill, 2 weeks for refills. BOTH REFILL systems are AUTOMATED.

Medicare does not pay for necessary durable medical items like glasses, hearing aids, Not even with a co-pay. It’s totally out of a Seniors slim pocket. Nor are you allowed to UPGRADE cataract lenses to correct for Astigmatism. You get MONO lenses and then you buy glasses to correct the Astigmatism. Many necessary test have been moved to a 2 yr schedule that should be yearly once diagnosed. Like Bone Density scans for Osteoporosis. PSA’s for men. Many more just to many to list.

We don’t expect FREE, we do EXPECT what both Medicare and TRICARE LIFE PROMISED. Not this gutted crap we now are forced to deal with. Many Specialist are turning us away.

And this latest Doc fix won’t last. This is # 17 after all.

I’m all for the short term fix. Kill the monster. Don’t trim is toenails. Kill it, along with Social Security and every other government benefits program.I am 68 years old and have no retirement other than Social Security and am, of course, on Medicare. But I say kill it and kill the Federal government involvement in insurance and medicine totally. Don’t “replace “ it.

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