Originally posted by utherpendragon Here are the top ten worst lies told by Biden during the debate:
Update - Honorable Mention: "There's not one Democrat who endorsed his...plan." Biden lied--as Ryan pointed out, amidst the Vice President's interruptions--about the fact that Ryan had worked with both Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and former Clinton budget director Alice Rivli ...[text shortened]... en-Worst-Lies-by-Joe-Biden-in-VP-Debate
How exactly does cutting $716 billion in excess payments to Medicare providers "hurt[s]....... the program's solvency"?
Originally posted by no1marauder How exactly does cutting $716 billion in excess payments to Medicare providers "hurt[s]....... the program's solvency"?
Possibly by decreasing the number of providers that will continue to accept Medicare.
Originally posted by no1marauder How would that "hurt the program's solvency" even if it were true?
That's true; "solvency" is bad phraseology. Utility or effectiveness would have been better.
It is possible that fewer people would pay their Medicare premiums if their providers would refuse to accept Medicare in any case, but I would tend to agree that this is unlikely given that even if relying on supplemental insurance, most seniors would keep Medicare for hospitalizations.
Originally posted by dryhump It is true that providers have been dropping medicare patients.
Who cares? There are plenty of providers for Medicare patients and will be regardless of the cuts in excess payments; treating the elderly is where the money is in health care.
US health care is renowned for its inefficiency and huge profit margins, so it seems unlikely health care providers would exit the market because there is no money in it if they make slightly less profits.
Originally posted by sh76 That's true; "solvency" is bad phraseology. Utility or effectiveness would have been better.
It is possible that fewer people would pay their Medicare premiums if their providers would refuse to accept Medicare in any case, but I would tend to agree that this is unlikely given that even if relying on supplemental insurance, most seniors would keep Medicare for hospitalizations.
The program's solvency is in danger because of medical costs that keep increasing well above any economic standard like wages paid, inflation, etc. Limiting payments is an essential step to restore the program's solvency; in no way does it hurt that.
Originally posted by KazetNagorra US health care is renowned for its inefficiency and huge profit margins, so it seems unlikely health care providers would exit the market because there is no money in it if they make slightly less profits.
For Medicare this is perhaps true, because treating the elderly is so lucrative. But as a concept, that is incorrect, as there are many, many providers who refuse Medicaid patients due to low profits. In my community, I would estimate the number of doctors who refuse Medicaid patients to be about 50%.
Originally posted by sh76 For Medicare this is perhaps true, because treating the elderly is so lucrative. But as a concept, that is incorrect, as there are many, many providers who refuse Medicaid patients due to low profits. In my community, I would estimate the number of doctors who refuse Medicaid patients to be about 50%.
A link in Uther's article leads to another good article on this subject.
Originally posted by sh76 For Medicare this is perhaps true, because treating the elderly is so lucrative. But as a concept, that is incorrect, as there are many, many providers who refuse Medicaid patients due to low profits. In my community, I would estimate the number of doctors who refuse Medicaid patients to be about 50%.
So what? It's a free country, if doctors don't want to make money they don't have to. There's no shortage of doctors and health providers for Medicaid patients.
Is Joe Biden okay?
15 Oct '12 14:50
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