Posted on 04/14/2015 2:45:32 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
The Senate is set to take up a bipartisan bill Tuesday that will permanently end the Medicare "doc fix," a yearly legislative headache on Capitol Hill, but some of the Senate's most conservative members are threatening to oppose the legislation crafted last month in the House, citing its price tag.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that he expected to bring the bill to the Senate floor later in the day, hours before Medicaid officials say they will implement a 21 percent cut to the rates it pays doctors treating Medicare patients. McConnell said there is "a bipartisan desire" to pass the bill before the midnight deadline.
Complicating passage is the opposition of several staunch Senate conservatives, including presidential candidate Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), who said in a statement Tuesday that any deal ending the "doc fix" should be "fully paid for and include significant and structural reforms to Medicare that provide seniors more power and control over their health care."
[Congress congratulates itself for the ‘doc fix’ deal, but can it happen again?]
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the House-passed bill would add $141 billion to federal budget deficits through 2025. But in the subsequent 10 years, the nonpartisan budget analysts said, "federal savings would increase rapidly."
The House legislation, forged through high-level bargaining between Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), passed 392 to 37.
But Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) said Monday he would insist on fully offsetting the $141 billion in net spending with other federal budget cuts. "I'm disappointed, frankly, that the House sent over a bill that was not paid for," he said. "It's not easy, but it's very doable."
Beyond the cost, Cruz said the legislation also does nothing to address his signature issue, dismantling the Affordable Care Act, and instead "institutionalizes and expands
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“Throwing out Obamacare is fine ... just don’t throw out Medicare with it ... :-) ...”
You seem to forget Obamacare is what created the problem in the first place for Medicare. Repeal Obamacare and the problem with Medicare goes away.
I didn’t forget the problems with Obamacare, but there are those who want to move on to Medicare, after Obamacare ... :-) ...
Yep, I work at Major Hospital. Effective 4/1/15 Medicare is holding paying claims until the 15th of this month in order to give Congress time to decide on the 21% cut in payments to Dr’s. Any claims prior to and at 3/31 are not affected. At 4/1/15 if Congress decides to cut, then the reduced payment amounts will be processed for those claims.
Quite frankly, this is the wrong bone to pick. Congress should find a way to reduce expenses by 21% SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE BUDGETS. We will lose even more Dr’s if this cut goes into effect. Imagine how hard it is for folks to find a Medicaid Dr now, it will be worse when Dr’s start refusing Medicare patients.
“Congress should find a way to reduce expenses by 21% SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE BUDGETS”
True, but good luck when you have the people in charge, such as Nancy Pelosi, claiming that they have “already cut the budget to the bone”. It is going to take a sea change of public opinion about the role of the federal government before they would cut other parts of the budget in order to fund Medicare.
You bet ... might as well set up some camps for us to live in, too ... LOL ...
I remember that early on, many states were saying they would not comply with the new laws.
Are you talking about the Oregon Health Plan? That’s not Medicare. You may be thinking about Medicaid!
This is the Health Plan that is controlled locally, and I’m aware of this one, but it’s essentially Medicaid ...
Oregon Health Plan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Health_Plan
Here is Medicare ...
Medicare (United States)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_(United_States)
If above link doesn’t work, use this ...
http://tinyurl.com/ys225j
Who is anti-Cruz? You haven’t seen me post anything negative against Cruz, anywhere on Free Republic.
You might try laying off the “sauce” for the evening ... LOL ...
Here is an excellent test for Cruz. No Republican I'm aware of has been able to avoid the left's demagoguery over Medicare. If there's one guy who can beat them, it's Ted Cruz.
Bill passed 92-8. There’s a thread on it
I was referring to Cruz’s stated position on Medicare. Sorry I didn’t make that clear. :)
Senate Approves a Bill on Changes to Medicare
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3279267/posts
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday approved sweeping changes in the way Medicare pays doctors, clearing the bill for President Obama and resolving an issue that has bedeviled Congress and the Medicare program for more than a decade.
The 92-to-8 vote in the Senate, following passage in the House last month by an overwhelming vote of 392 to 37, was a major success for Republicans, who devised a solution to a complex policy problem that had frustrated lawmakers of both parties. Mr. Obama has endorsed the bill, saying it “could help slow health care cost growth.”
The bill, drafted in the House in negotiations between Speaker John A. Boehner and Representative Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader, also extends the Children’s Health Insurance Program for two years, through 2017.
Without action by Congress, doctors would have faced a 21 percent cut in Medicare fees on Wednesday or Thursday. Senate leaders cleared the way for final passage by allowing votes on several amendments sought by liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans.
No problem. Just trying to make you aware of the recently posted vote in case you hadn’t seen it.
In fact, I saw it just after making my initial post. Cheers.
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
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