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The politicians won't discuss Medicare reform for fear of offending geezer voters. And they do vote.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

I think the Medicare system is the victim of fraud of one kind or another from all sides: suppliers, users, and the government.

The suppliers - doctors(who's costs are driven up by legal tort), hospitals (really just business corporations), and the medical goods, medicines and equipment - all have driven up costs higher than if they had been left alone to fulfill the original goal (heal people).

The users - are to blame too for not shopping for their care as they would for a pair of shoes, for making a social day at the doctors' office complex to gab with other geezers on medicare, for being hypocondriacs because they don't have to pay for it, etc.

The hospitals - for having to fund the cost for indigent and illegal care through overcharging the government

and finally, the suppliers ---slap that "medical" tag on it and it becomes a whole 'nother level of item.....

The government is always to blame when it takes money from someone who's earned it and gives it to someone who didn't.

the solution is not telling doctors and hosptials that they won't be paid as would a normally insured pt. would pay.....

solution has to come from restriction of the large variety of treatments and drugs covered....

my mil is a perfect example....is off and on new meds all the time...seems special drs for her arthritis even though she has had muliple surgeries that haven't really helped...goes to see drs for little things....

restrict the number of medicines that are paid for by medicare...restrict visits to drs unless emergencies to 2 a yr...we probably going to have to index some people with high incomes.