U.S. hospitals offer $155 billion for health reform: report

Reuters ^ | 07/07/2009

[EBH]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Three major hospital associations have offered to contribute about $155 billion over 10 years to help pay for a U.S. healthcare overhaul, The Washington Post reported on Monday, citing industry sources.

The agreement with the Obama administration and leaders of the Senate Finance Committee was expected to be announced on Tuesday by Vice President Biden, the newspaper said.

Two hospital sources said most of the savings -- about $100 billion -- would come through lower-than-expected Medicare and Medicaid payments to hospitals, the Post reported.

About $40 billion would be saved by slowly reducing the subsidies paid to hospitals to care for the uninsured.

The Post said White House officials declined comment.

[EBH]

I want to know what hospitals these are. I have long contended the "problem" with the healthcare industry has been the insurance company's monopoly of the system.

Now I see three hospitals coming up in a convoluted scheme of $140 Billion dollars?

Reduced medicare & medicaid payments? Reduced subsidies for the uninsured?

Hopitals offering to pay-off the federal government?

[Man50D]

It has nothing to do with cost folks! It's all bout government expansion to advance the socialist cause. Don't let it happen! Pour on the pressure by letting politicians know everyday you won't stand for these socialist bills! Contact they everyday via phone, emails and faxes! Toll free capital switchboard numbers are below.

800-828-0498

877-762-8762

[Man50D]

they=them

[poobear]

Guess these hospitals think the NEW government health care insurance will pay better than the OLD medicare/Medicaid program.

Even though they may be eaten last, they'll still be eaten.

[wastoute]

Read the fine print. These hospitals don't have billions to "give". They just propose further shifting the costs to non-gummint payers. Fine solution for a Fascist State. Welcome to the New America.

Μολὼν λάβε

[pieceofthepuzzle]

This is so duplicitous. Agreeing to accept lower medicare and medicaid payments is not the same as ‘contributing’ $150 billion to health care ‘reform’. It's basically the government strong-arming the hospitals into accepting less than the cost of services, likely in return for some quid pro quo that we haven't heard about yet. Many physicians have stopped accepting medicare and medicaid because they often don't even cover the actual costs of providing services.

Anyone who is in favor of a European style health care system would do well to look into exactly what it's like to live in Europe. The expectations of the people there are much different than here. Their expectations are lower. Try to make hotel reservations in Europe for a family vacation. The rooms, even in the major name hotels, usually include two twin beds, or maybe one King if you are lucky. The accommodations in a Motel 6 in this country are often better than higher end hotels in Europe. The European lifestyle is much more spartan than here. Their health care is also more spartan than here, by far. People have little idea what they are asking for or supporting.

[TSgt]

It's basically the government strong-arming the hospitals into accepting less than the cost of services, likely in return for some quid pro quo that we haven't heard about yet.

We have a winner!

[EBH]

That is why I want to know what hospitals these are.

Even reading the information doesn’t make any sense. How are they going to come up with the billions?

Reduced....services.

[oblomov]

“US Hospital associations agreed...”, “The pharmaceutical industry agreed...”

These agreements are worthless. The associations that claim to speak for an entire industry are unable to enter into any binding agreement on behalf of their industry members.

[kitkat]

As it is, if Medicare patients also carry private health insurance such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, hospitals go by the Medicare rules. If the Medicare rules say they won’t pay for treatment, the private insurance will not pay. Or,in other words, you’ll die for lack of treatment no matter what insurance you have.

[King Moonracer]

About $40 billion would be saved by slowly reducing the subsidies paid to hospitals to care for the uninsured.

Sounds like they were insured, since they got $40 Billion in services, at least.

[Daveinyork]

The hospitals will need to come up with the money somehow. Watch for private pay prices to go up, pushing insurance rates up even further. This could further increase the political demand for government health care.

[moose2004]

This is the hospitals’ attempt to actively participate in health care reform, and at the same time avoid a “public” government run option. We need market based health care reform, not a European/Canadian system (read my tagline).

[socialismisinsidious]

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