[Vince Ferrer]

Reimbursement rates for Medicare, the federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older, have been targeted under federal health care reform. It's possible that the rates will be further reduced Jan. 1 when automatic spending cuts are scheduled to go into effect. Couple that with ongoing federal deficit-reduction discussions, and hospital officials recognize the need to look hard at controlling costs, said Adrian Sanchez, a spokesman for the Nebraska Hospital Association.

[SMARTY]

Right.

Then... when the positions are re-filled later, there will be 3 or 4 idiot, government civil servants hired to take the place of what USED to be done by ONE qualified and efficient employee, BEFORE Obamacare!

I just can't wait for the hostility, inconvenience and attitude!!!

[Average Al]

They could close the kitchens and put a microwave in every room to nuke TV dinners. The food wouldn’t be any worse. ;-)

[cuspofcommonsense]

Gee . . . I wonder who all of these layed off folks are going to vote for . . . ? ? ?

[grumpygresh]

“It is important to note, the consultants said, that the slowed spending won’t affect the benefits received by people enrolled in Medicare”

Yeah right. Even small cuts make a big difference when profit margins are small. High risk Medicare patients are going to be treated like lepers. Just wait, the so-called consultants, in the name of patient safety, will be busy figuring out ways to deny expensive drugs and compex procedures to Medicare patients.