Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Dems, GOP Fight Over Medicare Rates

Republicans say foes are trying to hide true cost

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 21, 2009 12:33 PM CDT

(Newser) – A new health care-related bill is in the spotlight on Capitol Hill, as senators battle over a Democratic proposal to freeze Medicare rates for doctors at the current rate for 10 years—overriding a 21% cut scheduled for January. Democrats say the bill, which is backed by lobbyists from the AMA and AARP, will ensure doctors keep seeing seniors.

But Republicans say the measure should have been included in the broader health care reform bill, and that Democrats spun it off in order to hide its cost—$247 billion over 10 years. In an editorial, the Wall Street Journal calls it the “fiscal deception of the century.” The Medicare cuts are supposed to kick in when health care costs rise too fast. But every year Congress intervenes to prevent the cuts.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (2)]

White House Health Care czar Nancy Ann DeParle, accompanied by Harry Reid and Christopher Dodd, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., center, gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill Tuesday. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

We are going to make sure that senior citizens have the ability to go to a doctor when they're sick. We want to make sure that more doctors take Medicare patients, not less. - Harry Reid

This adds a lot of dimes. - John Cornyn, referencing Obama's promise not to sign a health care bill that adds "one dime" to the deficit

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Which Entertainer Pulled Out of 'Inappropriate' Whitney Tribute? (NewsOne)

The French Government Wants to Tone My Vagina (Slate)

Obama Photo on Facebook Helps Catch Drug Dealer (HuffPost)

Hottest Women to Ever Appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue (Bleacher Report)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 12 comments

SilenceDogood

Oct 22, 2009 10:43 AM CDT

The funny part of this is the premise is flawed and no one is discussing it. To believe that doctors will hold their cost for 10 years is ridiculous and an irresponsible lie, the republicans know this will not happen. Most physicians will simply refuse to see Medicare patients; no one can force them to. The Democrats need to quit fabricating the numbers to make them look good and become more realistic.

SilenceDogood

Oct 22, 2009 10:41 AM CDT

hfymf

davjc09

Oct 21, 2009 9:41 AM CDT

That's the mentality that encourages huge deficit spending (on both sides of the aisle). Oh I won't be around to actually have to pay it back. I don't care the costs. Continued spending against the deficit is not sustainable. Normal people can't spend beyond their means. Neither should our government.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

Valentine's Day Role-Playing Goes Very Wrong

Wall Street Journal (Source Grid »)
Wall Street Journal (Source Grid »)

Politics • Health

Senate • Harry Reid • Medicare • AARP • American Medical Association • health care reform

More Newser Stories

Dummy Firms Squeeze Millions From Medicare

Fraud-fighters finding it hard to stay ahead of shell companies

(NEWSER) - Fraudsters using complicated networks of ghost companies are sucking hundreds of millions of dollars out of Medicare every year and it's a bit like taking candy from a baby, a Reuters investigation finds. The probe—which officials say will likely lead to a criminal investigation of the firms involved—found that the "companies" of many Medicare providers are registered to nonexistent addresses, or the addresses of abandoned buildings. The thieves use stolen doctor and patient data to bill Medicare for as much money as possible in a short time. More»

Boehner Cancels Payroll Vote

House Republicans revolt, call for conference committee

(NEWSER) - House Republicans didn’t hold their expected vote on the Senate’s two-month payroll tax cut extension last night, a hairpin turn so abrupt that Politico ’s story on it is headlined, “Has John Boehner Lost Control?” The House had planned to vote down the Senate bill and push for a full-year extension, but members objected that doing so would compromise their pledge against voting for tax hikes. Instead, the House will hold a procedural vote this morning to send the matter into a conference committee with the Senate. More»

Pipeline May End Up in Final Tax Deal

Republicans adamant about keeping Keystone in play

(NEWSER) - Republican lawmakers are determined to push through a measure speeding a White House decision on the Keystone XL pipeline—and they're ready to link it to the payroll tax cut extension. If the Senate sends the House legislation that extends the tax break, as well as jobless benefits and the Medicare reimbursement rate, by two months, "we’ll amend it and send something back," John Boehner said at a GOP meeting. “And what we send back will include Keystone." More»

On Way Out, Medicare Boss Bashes 'Extreme' Waste

Donald Berwick says 20-30% of health care spending helps no one

(NEWSER) - Between 20% and 30% of all US health care spending is pure “waste,” according to departing Medicare and Medicaid chief Donald Berwick. “Much is done that does not help patients at all, and many physicians know it,” Berwick said in an interview with the New York Times on Thursday, his last day on the job. He cited overtreatment of patients, the failure to coordinate care, complex administrative systems, burdensome regulations, and fraud as the main reasons for the “extremely high level of waste.” More»

Romney's Health Plan: The New 'Public Option'

Mitt's approach to Medicare looks a lot like Dems' original proposition: Ezra Klein

(NEWSER) - He wouldn’t put it this way, but Mitt Romney’s newly unveiled health care plan effectively offers the public option Republicans so opposed in 2009. Romney proposes providing seniors an as-yet-undetermined lump sum to pay either for Medicare or one of many private health plans. This could take his party “in an awkward direction,” writes Ezra Klein in the Washington Post : Passage of the plan would prompt calls to open it to “younger and younger Americans.” More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Dems, GOP Fight Over Medicare Rates