Posted on 07/08/2009 10:01:38 AM PDT by tobyhill
The nation's hospitals will give up $155 billion in future Medicare and Medicaid payments to help defray the cost of President Barack Obama's health care plan, a concession the White House hopes will boost an overhaul effort that's hit a roadblock in Congress.
Vice President Joe Biden announced the deal at the White House on Wednesday, with administration officials and hospital administrators at his side.
"Reform is coming," he said. "It is on track. ... We have never been as close as we are today." And in a firm message to lawmakers, Biden added, "We must and will enact reform by the end of August."
Obama has set an ambitious timetable for legislation, with the hope of signing a comprehensive bill in October. But lawmakers returned Tuesday from their July 4 break with lots of questions about the complex legislation and deep misgivings about key elements under discussion.
Democratic senators in particular are having second thoughts about a proposed new tax on generous health insurance benefits provided by some employers. Without the tax -- Republicans favor it as a brake on cost increases -- the prospects for a bipartisan deal in the Senate appear to be in jeopardy.
Timing is critical because lawmakers might be reluctant to vote on such a charged issue as health care next year, when all House members and one-third of senators face elections.
"We're not there yet," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who, as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has spent countless hours seeking a compromise with Republican colleagues. "I'm trying the best I can to get there soon."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
More than one way to skin a cat (i.e.: the American people), huh Biden? =.=
yep. Hospitals will recoup the loss through Medicaid and Medicare with higher cost to self pay or private insurance which will in turn raise premiums.
NOTHING IS “FREE”!
We must be on the precipice of some immediate disaster, facing the point of no return.
Just like every other issue that's been sitting around for forty or fifty years.
If the American people truly are demanding it, as Obama claims, then the Democrats should be eager to pass it at any time. In fact, passing it in an election year should increase their lead in Congress. The fact that they are trying to schedule it away from an election year and pass it without a lot of publicity or public understanding of the bill means they know their power grab won't be popular. And that's even before people start dying in line waiting for what is now near immediate care.
Hey Pimple Brain, America can’t afford it and doesn’t want it.
He referred to this scam twice as “defecit nuetral”. Talk about double-speak. Are we in 2009 or 1984?
“Newspeak” not “double-speak” - sorry
Deficit Neutral is contradictory to spending more than one takes in. No matter how this health-care bill is sliced, there’s not enough money to pay for it unless everyone who pays their insurance bill pays more for the ones that don’t.
[five minute pause]
Obama denies hospital deal.
I ask again. Why are deals being made with these hospitals or any companies for that matter?
Because we’re at the mercy of a bunch of Communist Pigs.
I’d like to know what organization or association they are cutting deals with. I don’t think the AHA could sign & speak for every hospital in the country.
So, am I to believe they met with the heads of every hospital in the nation and all of them are on financial footing to absorb this cost?
Hell no! They aren’t going to absorb the loss. They are going to pass on the cost to people with private insurance then the insurance company will raise the premiums.
I may be wrong but down the road I see them cutting back on support staff - nursing assistants, food service workers, housekeeping, maintenance, unit secretaries. They absolutely can't get by with less nurses. But if they cut back support, we'll be seeing nurses emptying garbage cans and passing out food trays in addition to having the same patient load. They already have nurses cleaning patient rooms in the UK.
“Of the $155 billion in projected savings from hospitals, about $40 billion to $50 billion would come from reducing federal payments hospitals receive for providing care to uninsured and low-income patients, according to lobbyists. Those payments are now made through the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The Medicaid cuts would be apportioned by state, as 10 percent annual reductions beginning around 2015.
About $100 billion more would come from reductions in planned Medicare payments to hospitals. A small amount of savings would come from trimming the money hospitals get for preventing patients from being readmitted for additional care.”
SOME VICTORY. The govt will reduce what it pays hospitals to care for the poor and elderly. The hospitals will reduce the care they offer to the poor and elderly.
How’s that going to work for you, America? Particularly you’re over 65 and basically forced into MEDICARE by private insurerss.
Leave it to Biden and congressional democrats to spin a lose-lose proposition as progress on healthcare reform.
No we aren’t.
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