You would think they would be able to figure out a solution in less than a decade.
Presidential candidates on the bill ...
Eight senators opposed the bill, including Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) who are both seeking the presidency in 2016. They were joined by Sens. Lee, David Perdue (R-Georgia), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala).
Sen. Pand Paul (R-Ky.), another 2016 candidate, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is also considering a run, voted to support the bill.
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/238871-senate-overwhelmingly-approves-house-doc-fix-bill
Perhaps. But I’m happy that Ted Cruz didn’t make the expedient vote, he voted the right way,
The solution includes raising Medicare Part B premiums on “wealthy” seniors.
Before passing the bill, the Senate rejected a half-dozen proposed amendments on Tuesday night. Democrats, for example, wanted to provide more money for women’s health care. Republicans wanted to repeal a provision of the Affordable Care Act that requires most Americans to have health insurance, and they tried to force Congress to pay for the Medicare bill so it would not increase budget deficits.
The current payment formula, set by Congress in 1997, links Medicare spending on doctors’ services to growth of the overall economy. Medicare spending has regularly exceeded the targets. Under the law, the excess is supposed to be recouped in subsequent years through cuts in payment rates for doctors.
The bill would repeal that formula. Fiscal conservatives object because only one-third of the cost would be offset. The rest, $141 billion from 2015 to 2025, would add to federal budget deficits.
“This bill is not paid for,” said Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama.
Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, said the bill “doubles down on Medicare’s broken price control model” and “inflates the administration’s power as regulator and compliance officer.”
Paul Spitalnic, the chief actuary of the Medicare program, said the bill could lead to “a payment reduction for most physicians” after 2025. “If not addressed by subsequent legislation,” he said, “we expect that access to and quality of physicians’ services would deteriorate over time for beneficiaries.”
I guessing this bill will help big health insurance companies, hurt doctors and hurt people on Medicare.
“Mr. Obama has endorsed the bill, saying it “could help slow health care cost growth.””
Well of course, Obama is the logical choice to know all about reducing health care costs. /s
Like the majority of Freepers, I’m on S/S and Medicare and I support this bill. Flame me, I don’t care.
I don’t get it. Wouldn’t it be easier to put everyone on Obamacare and send them the $2,500 Check Obama promised us every Year?
The Dear Leader said Obamacare would save money and would Insure everybody. He wouldn’t lie to us, would he?
The bill, drafted in the House in negotiations between Speaker John A. Boehner and Representative Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader
Vote GOPe get more BIG GOVT.
Good to know who's fiscally responsible
Republicans having been tying to get this through since before 0bamacare was signed.
Is this one of the gazillion bills Harry Reid wouldn’t bring up for vote?
No cut means the burden is still on the young and those that have paid into this monstrosity for 40 years. Keep in mind, many seniors paid very little into the program. Cruz probably voted what was best for the country since BO was in support.