Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Cat Scan


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Many doctors are quitting medicine because they can't make ends meet on what Medicare currently reimburses them. Now, Obama wants executive power to pay them even less...making it a certainty that there will be fewer and fewer doctors to see more and more patients.

Presumably, the vacancies in the medical field will have to be filled somewhat creatively...

13 comments:

Philip said...

Obama : "You're going to destroy my presidency"

http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/print_friendly.php?ID=hca_20090722_6620

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

Philip, Obama's comment is extremely telling. He did not enter office to do what the country needs (a fluid and constantly changing situation), but instead to do what he wants whether the timing makes it good for the country or not.

Philip said...

Yes, his real face is clearer day after day.

Gallup: Now 66% Of Independents Say Obama Calling For Too Much Spending

http://hotairpundit.blogspot.com/2009/07/gallup-now-66-of-independents-say-obama.html

Rasmussen: 53% oppose ObamaCare

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/07/22/rasmussen-53-oppose-obamacare/

Steamroller Sam said...

Let's see now...on the demand side, we have more patients requiring more services. On the supply side we have fewer health care professionals dispensing fewer services.

How is this going to lower the cost per unit of medical services?

Oh, that's right. Obama is going to tell us about that this evening.

Philip said...

Larry Sabato on the press conference.

The president failed the "Do no harm" test tonight.

"This didn't help O's plan."

http://twitter.com/LarrySabato

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

Thanks for the comments, everyone! The reason Obama failed the "first, do no harm" test is that you were thinking of the Hippocratic Oath. Obama has only taken the Hypocritic Oath.

Philip said...

Just to remember... :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-IBF8nwSY

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

Philip - Reagan's "morning in America" commercial remains great video and is genuinely inspiring. Unfortunately, if that commercial were shot today, about the current president, the tagline would be "we're mourning in America..."

Philip said...

Stilt, Michael Reagan is agree with you :

http://frontpagemagazine.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=33795

Unknown said...

I find it ironic. When Republicans try to rein in future increases in budgetary spending, Democrats accuse them of cutting spending below current levels.

Apparently, it works both ways.

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

Mitch, far be it from Hope n' Change to defend Republicans at all times, but in this case they're right. Currently, the Dems aren't trying to "rein in future increases," but actually want to drastically cut payments to physicians at a time when 1 in 4 senior citizens already have a hard time finding a primary care physician willing to accept Medicare. Additionally, while cutting services to the elderly, the Dems won't save any money - according to the CBO, their plans will add $1 trillion in debt to the system.

Unknown said...

again I have to ask, are these reductions in Medicare Advantage? Are they reductions in future growth or are they "trimming the fat," something Conservatives are quite fond of saying?

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

Mitch- Obamacare cut $716 billion from Medicare payments to doctors and hospitals. As a result, fewer doctors and hospitals want to treat Medicare patients. At the same time, more people (MANY more) are being added to Medicaid with no equivalent increase in funding. Add to that the fact that doctors are increasingly giving up and getting out of the business: who wants to study for years, run up huge debts, and pay horrible malpractice insurance fees - all to run a non-profit practice?