On July 1, the Bush administration imposed a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors who care for millions of older Americans. The cuts are not a budget issue, instead, Republicans are protecting powerful insurance companies at the expense of Medicare patients’ access to doctors.
Congress passed a bipartisan over ride bill [HR 3661] that Bush vetoed today. Congress promptly over rode the veto a few hours later.
There is a subtle aspect to this drama you may not recognize at first blush that proves "Support the Troops" on the lips of the Republicans is hollow campaign rhetoric.
Today George Bush vetoed HR 6331, a Medicare Bill. The votes in favor of the bipartisan bill were overwhelming, so it is no surprise that hours later, the Senate and House would over ride the veto. But there is a subtle subtext to this HR 6331 drama that many may miss.
George Bush, and John Campbell [R, Ca-48], in opposing HR 6331 again demonstrate that they have no regard for veterans. You may ask, "How does a Medicare cut affect veterans' benefits? Tricare payouts are indexed to Medicare -- Tricare uses the Medicare schedules for payments.
TRICARE, formerly known as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), is the managed care component of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System. TRICARE provides civilian health benefits for military personnel, military retirees, and their dependents, including some members of the Reserve Component. The TRICARE program is managed by TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) under the authority of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). TRICARE is the civilian care component of the Military Health System although historically, it also included health care delivered in the military medical treatment facilities.
Reducing Medicare reduces Tricare payments making it more difficult for military families to find doctors. Campbell’s "nay" vote, and George Bush’s veto, would have cut the medical benefits payable under Tricare.
To add insult to injury, the 10.6% Medicare cuts are not a budget issue. Instead, Republicans were protecting powerful insurance companies at the expense of Medicare patients’ access to doctors. Mr. Bush and Mr. Campbell oppose the bill because it reduces federal payments to insurance companies to finance an increase in doctors’ fees.
Our troops and doctors are on one side, insurance companies on the other – I chose to support those who serve us. Who do you think my opponent, John Campbell supports? Enough said!