Medicare Advantage rates were cut for 2010. The way they are postponing the fix of the physician fee schedule reduces MA 2011 payment rates by several percentage points. Reduction of MA payment rates is a given. The extent of the reduction is open to debate. In general, I agree with you that gutting Medicare is political dynamite. The problem is we are out of money and out of time. Pretty soon, we are going to find out it’s not so easy to borrow $1T+ for years on end, and then the S is going to hit the F. Unti then, they will try to squeeze providers, increase means testing (means testing has already crept into Medicare in that Part B premiums vary based on income level), and do whatever else it takes.
We’re on the same side FRiend, but despite our fiscal mess I still believe the Dems, and the Repubs for that matter, will never have the courage to vote for the actual cuts in the future. It’s political dynamite x 1000.