Health Care Reform: Doctors Fix Has Potential To Damage GOP

RFFM.org ^ | April 7, 2010 | Daniel T. Zanoza

[DManA]

It’s not a trap. Just fix the problem by repealing the danged thing. That is the only acceptable solution.

[Huskrrrr]

The potential for a “rope a dope” of Republicans is high. The more Americans become comfortable with Obamacare, the greater the likely hood that removing it will be perceived by the public as Republicans “taking away” Grandma's heathcare. This is diabolically clever.

[mikelets456]

Dirty rats!

[DManA]

I would love to see a graphic displaying the frequency of earthquakes over the past 100 years. I suspect there is nothing unusual going on but I’d like to see some hard data on it.

[DManA]

Opp, sorry, posted that here in error.

[Marty62]

It’s not a trap if the Repubs can see the path.

Repubs need to be shouting to high heaven about the stunt pulled by the Dums.

Just add this cost to the original bill and make it an issue.

Let the DUMS explain why they left it out of the original bill.

[for-q-clinton]

Not a trap at all. Just say it should have been part of the healthcare bill and they wanted it there. Now they are stuck with it and they won’t vote to change the HC bill unless the entire thing is reconsidered and voted on.

[Mamzelle]

Just let the Dems pass it, and vote “present”—then play politics with it after it’s been voted on. I don’t see as how this is anything but a winner for the GOP.

[SC DOC]

Just let the Dems pass it, and vote “present”—then play politics with it after it’s been voted on. I don’t see as how this is anything but a winner for the GOP.

I agree. While it is important to pass this bill to avoid catastrophic Medicare cuts that would essentially drive primary care providers out of business, I would like to see it passed without Republican support.

[for-q-clinton]

They could stand on principle and demand cuts elsewhere in gov’t to pass it. And suggest cuts in the new HC bill.

[FastCoyote]

No, you extract a repeal of part of Obamacare for voting for the Doc Fix. Bit by bit, inch by inch, a thousand slashes.

Never, ever, give them anything for free.

[the long march]

Your confusion over what to do is an example of why the GOP is in the sorry state that it is in today

[Reagan69]

Exactly. They don't show up for the vote on the basis that it should have been in the healthcare bill and there is no way to fund it.

Effectively vote “present”... or absent ?

[Mamzelle]

Cynical—but realpolitik. Then we take this crap out. We may have to chip at it, starve it, bleed it, sue it...but we’re not going to play by their rules any longer. Let them pass it, and then hit them for passing it.

[Mamzelle]

By the way, I can't quote page and verse, but did you know that this bill provides for people to sue the individual states for malpractice if Medicaid treatment proves inadequate?

How it works. Medicaid patient seeks treatment, no docs willing to take medicaid. Patient has bad outcome. Patient sues state for that bad outcome.

Really--it's in there. States are going to have to buy malpractice insurance. I love it.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Here’s the real kick in the @$$ about that:

The states will pay-out any legal costs and awards from the Medicaid funds, which are being reduced by an across-the-board $500 million. If the State runs out of Medicaid funds because of legal awards, they will necessarily dip into the general fund.

!!! EXCEPT !!! for Nebraska and Louisiana.

[SC DOC]

By the way, I can't quote page and verse, but did you know that this bill provides for people to sue the individual states for malpractice if Medicaid treatment proves inadequate? How it works. Medicaid patient seeks treatment, no docs willing to take medicaid. Patient has bad outcome. Patient sues state for that bad outcome.

I know that is in the bill, but also cannot give the specific page. I predict that if the bill is not repealed, the next move will be to force all doctors to accept Medicaid patients by tying it to state licensure. When and if that happens, you are going to see doctors leave the profession in droves.

[Mamzelle]

re: I predict that if the bill is not repealed, the next move will be to force all doctors to accept Medicaid patients by tying it to state licensure.)))

A Democrat who's never worked a real job might think that that would be easy to do--so let them try it. I suggest to any doc that if he can't retire, at least prepare for a long sabbatical as it all shakes out.

[BfloGuy]

Dumb article. This isn't a trap.

The Republicans are right to support raising the doctors' reimbursement rates. Period.

The rest of the health care mess is another thing.