My first diary. I have lots written already, anticipating when I was allowed to begin posting them, but I had to put those aside, for this.
Democrats in Congress, regardless of their political futures, MUST follow through on two items, if "the bill" passes.
- Make the cuts necessary to ensure the savings and deficit reduction that are being touted come true;
and
- Pass a PO/Medicaid buyin option.
Otherwise, dunskies. For a LONG time
http://cbo.gov/...
http://docs.house.gov/...
(If you KNOW that I'm off-base on any of the stipulations in #1, please respectfully say and prove why.)
- The following are the necessary moves that the CBO assumed would happen when coming up with their numbers:
a. $21 billion in cuts against the Medicare Improvement Fund
b. $38 billion in Rx coverage (medicare)
c. About $40 billion in payment cuts to HHC.
I believe there are billions more spread out across about 12 particular cuts.
Those that vote for the bill MUST vote for these cuts. Regardless of the political fallout from voting for these cuts (there needs to be a companion campaign pointing to GOP hypocrisy when they publicly criticize cuts to Medicare), NOT voting for them would be political suicide because then criticism that the trumpeters of this HCR were liars will be mostly true.
Also, some of the services cut from Medicare will be unnecessary or paid for because of the HCR.
- PO/Medicaid buyin
Some sort of decent public plan option must soon be available after this reform passes. When the sky doesn't fall the morning after the passage, hopefully our Congresspeople will find the stones to support Grayson or another Public Option. All hospitals and GP's MUST be required to accept the PO.
If the PO is not in place and the private insurers are not then summarily de-regulated to reduce adminstration and legal costs, healthcare service cost will NOT fall, and cuts in services covered OR coverage cost increases will occur.
In conclusion, HCR is either the right thing and affordable, or it isn't. If you believe it is right and affordable, then whether the CBO says it'll save money or break us even shouldn't be as important as GETTING THE JOB DONE.