Even if this doesn't impact on you now, wait a few years and it will!
OBAMACARE DECLARES WAR ON DOCTORS
By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN
Published on DickMorris.com on October 26, 2011
The worst fears about Obamacare are now being realized in a decision on Monday by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MPAC) established by the law to supervise $500 billion in Medicare cuts. MPAC, whose decisions have the force of law, has voted to impose drastic pay cuts on all doctors under Medicare and, by extension, under Medicaid (which tends to follow suit). The cuts will effectively reduce the real pay for specialists by 50% over the next ten years --- including a 25% reduction over the next three years -- and cut general practitioners' pay by one-third over ten years (and that assumes that inflation stays down at 3% a year).
MPAC has ruled that specialists must accept a 6% cut in their fees per year for each of the next three years followed by a seven year freeze in their fees without any adjustment for inflation. If inflation stays very low -- at 3% per year -- this cut amounts to an 18% cut in nominal pay and a 50% cut in real pay for specialists. General practitioners will face a ten year freeze on their pay, reducing their real compensation by one-third assuming ongoing low inflation. Higher inflation, of course, would make the cuts in real pay even more drastic.
The consequences of the MPAC decision will be immediate and drastic:
* Many physicians, and many more specialists, will refuse to treat Medicare patients. It will become very, very difficult to see a cardiologist or an oncologist or a gastroenterologist or OB-GYN specialist if you are on Medicare unless you are willing to pay out of pocket or have the kind of health insurance coverage from a private source that would reimburse for their care.
* More and more medical care will be turned over to nurses or physician assistants, and fewer people will ever get to see a doctor on Medicare.
* Private health insurers will follow in the footsteps of the Medicare program and likely slash their fees as well.
* Fewer students will enter medicine, and a major shortage of doctors will reduce the quality of medical care in America drastically.
The MPAC cuts will bring American doctors' incomes more into line with European doctors who typically earn half or less of what their American counterparts earn -- and deliver worse medical care as a result.
We have got to stop these MPAC cuts from taking effect. The very future of Medicare and of our entire health care system is at stake. If they are allowed to stand, Medicare will become akin to Medicaid or public housing -- a program for poor people who cannot afford to pay for medical care from specialists outside the system.
Providing quality medical care and preserving the Medicare program is something that can reach Republicans and survival-minded Democrats, but we need to raise a storm of protest!
This decision is the same as a "Death Panel"! As a senior, if you can't see the specialists you need, you WILL die. On the other hand, the politicians who are passing these laws have no such concerns because they have their golden health care program paid for by the very tax payers who will be dying!!! Everyone of them should be lynched!
By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN
Published on DickMorris.com on October 26, 2011
The worst fears about Obamacare are now being realized in a decision on Monday by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MPAC) established by the law to supervise $500 billion in Medicare cuts. MPAC, whose decisions have the force of law, has voted to impose drastic pay cuts on all doctors under Medicare and, by extension, under Medicaid (which tends to follow suit). The cuts will effectively reduce the real pay for specialists by 50% over the next ten years --- including a 25% reduction over the next three years -- and cut general practitioners' pay by one-third over ten years (and that assumes that inflation stays down at 3% a year).
MPAC has ruled that specialists must accept a 6% cut in their fees per year for each of the next three years followed by a seven year freeze in their fees without any adjustment for inflation. If inflation stays very low -- at 3% per year -- this cut amounts to an 18% cut in nominal pay and a 50% cut in real pay for specialists. General practitioners will face a ten year freeze on their pay, reducing their real compensation by one-third assuming ongoing low inflation. Higher inflation, of course, would make the cuts in real pay even more drastic.
The consequences of the MPAC decision will be immediate and drastic:
* Many physicians, and many more specialists, will refuse to treat Medicare patients. It will become very, very difficult to see a cardiologist or an oncologist or a gastroenterologist or OB-GYN specialist if you are on Medicare unless you are willing to pay out of pocket or have the kind of health insurance coverage from a private source that would reimburse for their care.
* More and more medical care will be turned over to nurses or physician assistants, and fewer people will ever get to see a doctor on Medicare.
* Private health insurers will follow in the footsteps of the Medicare program and likely slash their fees as well.
* Fewer students will enter medicine, and a major shortage of doctors will reduce the quality of medical care in America drastically.
The MPAC cuts will bring American doctors' incomes more into line with European doctors who typically earn half or less of what their American counterparts earn -- and deliver worse medical care as a result.
We have got to stop these MPAC cuts from taking effect. The very future of Medicare and of our entire health care system is at stake. If they are allowed to stand, Medicare will become akin to Medicaid or public housing -- a program for poor people who cannot afford to pay for medical care from specialists outside the system.
Providing quality medical care and preserving the Medicare program is something that can reach Republicans and survival-minded Democrats, but we need to raise a storm of protest!
This decision is the same as a "Death Panel"! As a senior, if you can't see the specialists you need, you WILL die. On the other hand, the politicians who are passing these laws have no such concerns because they have their golden health care program paid for by the very tax payers who will be dying!!! Everyone of them should be lynched!
9 comments:
I feel the need to point out that there isn't enough rope to lynch each and every theiving, lying, and cheating politician. I CAN, however, suggest a very adequate substitute.....
This is bad and it's only starting.
Obamacare must be stopped. Problem is those who voted for him are getting a free ride on the American taxpayer, and will vote for him again. Unless we can curb excessive use of welfare and unemployment Obama will be re-elected.
Reading this convinces me that 2 + 2 = 5.
They prove their point; lower the cost of medical care by eliminating it and reducing life expectancy to rival that of third world, emerging nations. Senior citizens will be just old enough to run for President.
Some doctors have already begun contacting medicare patients about direct coverage options vs medicare. Right now, they are taking surveys on what patients are willing to pay for a direct "care contract". I don't know how Obamacare would be any different.
My most memorable moment with Government doctors was when I went through a Military Draft Screening and the "doctor" asked the guy next to me if his eye was bothering him. The individual replied "it's a glass eye sir" at which time this "doctor" moved on to the next person.
Good healthcare will be relegated to the rich who can afford it as well as those exempt from Obamacare (Congress & Federal workers).
Might have read this if I hadn't seen Dick Morris as writing it. He is a slime ball of the first degree - can't believe anything he says.
COuld have swore congress has been kicking these cuts down the road YEARS before Obamacare.
I look at it this way. Fewer will be studying for the medical profession, meaning less doctors. This will eventually affect Congress, they will eventually be hit with the same crappy physicians the rest of us will already be used to!!! And remember those in Congress aren't getting any younger either. Medicare may not affect them but the physicians will not be in favor of caring for the senior citizens. Each and every one of us will be a senior citizen even if you don't want to admit it, unless God needs you earlier.
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