Bush Calls for $400 Billion in Medicare SpendingPosted on 01/29/2003 3:53:38 PM PST by Uncle Bill
Bush Calls for $400 Billion in Medicare Spending
Bush Calls for $400B in New Medicare Spending; Will Offer Prescription Drug Benefit
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Jan. 29 — President Bush said Wednesday that $400 billion in new Medicare spending over a decade would make sure the program "fulfills its promise to our seniors" by adding flexibility and offering a prescription drug benefit for the first time.
The broad overhaul of the 38-year-old program that Bush envisions would be a huge undertaking.
But introducing market mechanisms to Medicare by increasing the reliance on cheaper private health plans to treat the elderly is seen by the administration as a way to help pay for the costly drug coverage long desired by both parties and still absorb the aging Baby Boomer population that threatens to bankrupt the program by 2030.
"Medicare has been used as a political football," Bush said. "It's old it's important, but it hasn't changed."
Bush urged lawmakers to "put aside all of the politics and make sure the Medicare system fulfills its promise to our seniors."
"This is a commitment America must make," he said.
For the traditional journey outside Washington the morning after the State of the Union address, Bush chose the most conservative corner of political battleground Michigan, a state he lost in 2000 but where he was celebrated by eight standing ovations. Before his address, he met behind closed doors at a hospital, Spectrum Health, with a patient, medical professionals and a business owner.
Hundreds of demonstrators lined the street outside and chanted anti-war slogans. A smaller cluster stood on a nearby corner to show support. "Let's Roll never forget 9/11," one sign said.
The central feature of the president's Medicare plan is adding a drug benefit for older Americans.
Administration officials had said earlier that the plan would offer prescription drug benefits and catastrophic illness coverage to seniors as inducements to give up their fee-for-service Medicare benefits and enroll in private plans.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., promised quick work on the overhaul.
But one key Senate Republican quickly challenged any effort to condition a prescription drug benefit.
"I am concerned ... that the president's focus on ways to reform Medicare could hamper our efforts to pass comprehensive prescription coverage," said Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.
Some Democrats and consumer groups were harshly critical, saying such a proposal looks to them like an attempt to coerce seniors into private plans that deny them the doctors of their choice.
Amid the opposition, there were signs that the White House's proposal was back on the drawing board.
The Michigan event was originally billed as the rollout for the plan. But Wednesday, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the plan would come later, only specifying a time frame of "early this year." Other officials cautioned that the final details were still in flux while negotiations continued with key lawmakers.
"We're not even close to understanding what the president is going to propose," said House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.
Bush himself offered no details, only a broad outline of his goals.
"Seniors who are happy with the current Medicare system should stay in the current Medicare system," Bush said Wednesday. "If you like the way things are you shouldn't change. However, Medicare must be more flexible. Medicare must include prescription drugs. Medicare must be available to seniors in a variety of forms."
Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe said the plan, as originally described, "will privatize Medicare and hold seniors hostage to HMOs."
"He says he wants to help seniors afford prescription drugs, then he proposes a plan to coerce seniors into HMOs to get prescription coverage," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.
The president used his speech Tuesday to discuss the proposal, along with the rest of his health agenda, which includes establishing federal caps on damages in medical malpractice suits and providing health care insurance to the estimated 40 million Americans who lack it.
On Wednesday, Bush also plugged volunteerism and several planks of his "compassionate conservative" agenda, including new federal spending on vouchers for drug addicts to get treatment and to connect mentors with children of prisoners.
"I urge those who are addicted to find a program that can help heal your heart," Bush said.
Bush Urges Congress to Deliver on Prescription Drugs for Medicare
House Republicans planning prescription drug plan 60% larger than Bush's proposal
GOP Forms Prescription Drug Plan [AARP alligns with GOP]
"According to the Congressional Budget Office, seniors this year are expected to spend $87 billion on prescription drugs. But by 2012, the CBO estimates drug costs for seniors will more than triple, rising to $278 billion. So, when Republicans talk of a 10-year plan with $300 billion in drug benefits, current cost estimates for the 10 years from 2002-2012 are more than 
$1.8 trillion."
"Seniors often pay the highest prices for drugs out of their own pockets"
George W. Bush - Source
Medicare Bilked For Billions In Bogus ClaimsMedicare isn't bilked. The TAXPAYERS are bilked.
This can be fixed with mush magic and compassionate rattlesnake dances
I know, it's sickening.
Why should anyone do more for these people than they are willing to do for themselves?
And enthusiasm. Don't forget enthusiasm. It makes you feel better than just plain analysis, and costs less, too!
You posted the above part of the article, but you neglected to post the following part of the article;
"The president favors a limited Medicare drug bill that emphasizes coverage for the uninsured. Right now, most GOP proposals provide $300 billion in benefits over 10 years. "
Newsmax.com Magazine
By Wes Vernon
June 15, 2002
HillaryCare is coming through the back door. By the time you know it's there, it will be too late to stop it. Your confidential medical records will be public knowledge. In the next few years, it is going to become increasingly simple to transfer electronic medical records over the Internet.
The back door to this invasion of your privacy is being held wide open in the Bush administration by many of the same bureaucrats who promoted socialized medicine under Bill Clinton. But key Bush administration people are letting it happen.
[End of partial transcript]
Your Confidential Medical Records Are an Open Book
Bush Administration Scraps Written Consent Forms That Would Have Been Required in Patient Privacy
"I believe privacy is a fundamental right, and that every American should have absolute control over his or her personal information."
George W. Bush - Associated Press - Oct 6, 2000.
Americans love to be used and abused
Watch how the magic works. With the pitiful economy and collapsed stock market, Bush wants more money now. Prescription drugs for everybody, socialists of the world unite!
Gov BUSH Proposes $158 Billion to Modernize Medicare
Don't be deceived. Bush is a documented liar.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
