bonnie Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20090612/pl_bloomberg/aopmm5sy6vw Grassley, the top Republican on the Finance Committee, says he won’t back legislation to overhaul the U.S. health-care system unless Democrat Baucus, the panel’s chairman, abandons some of his party’s key goals. Among them: a government-run insurance plan and a mandate that employers cover workers. "The biggest challenge he has in his own caucus is that a large share of Senate Democrats really want the government to run everything," said Grassley, 75, an Iowa farmer and former chairman of the panel, which is taking the lead on the bill. As Congress enters what President Barack Obama calls the "make or break" period for the landmark legislation, the two lawmakers' ability to reach an accord may determine whether the Senate approves the broad, bipartisan bill Obama wants or resorts to a piecemeal measure that only Democrats can support. Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Shane Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 I don't think Democrats need Republican votes to pass this. If it is so great for the country the Democrats should just pass it and take all the credit. Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonnie Posted June 14, 2009 Author Share Posted June 14, 2009 I don't think Democrats need Republican votes to pass this. If it is so great for the country the Democrats should just pass it and take all the credit. That is kind of "be careful what you wish for" I do believe the democrats will do just that. Once we go down that road it will be next to impossible to retract Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonnie Posted June 14, 2009 Author Share Posted June 14, 2009 HEY ALL IT sounds good to have the government get involved but I think it is leading to socialism which is not good for the country dgrimm60 It is interesting to note that socialist countries have warned Obama about going down that path. Heard on the news that the European Union elections went overwhelmingly to conservative. The current administration seems to think he can re-invent socialism and make it work Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolaa Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 I don't think we have to worry about socialism, because single-payer is off the table. Now it appears that any alternative competition to the insurance companies will be off the table, as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolaa Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 "The biggest challenge he has in his own caucus is that a large share of Senate Democrats really want the government to run everything," said Grassley I think Grassley is misspeaking here. I think the majority of Democrats may want to see a government run option, but not necessarily for the government to run everything. Yes, some Dems do want the government to run everything, but I don't think most of them are that set on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonnie Posted June 15, 2009 Author Share Posted June 15, 2009 Originally Posted By: bonnie "The biggest challenge he has in his own caucus is that a large share of Senate Democrats really want the government to run everything," said Grassley I think Grassley is misspeaking here. I think the majority of Democrats may want to see a government run option, but not necessarily for the government to run everything. Yes, some Dems do want the government to run everything, but I don't think most of them are that set on it. I have yet to see disagreement with the democrats that have the clout. Nor does it appear Obama knows his health care plan is off the table http://www.nypost.com/seven/06132009/news/politics/obamas_health_plan__cut_313b__stat__174095.htm June 13, 2009 President Obama today outlined a $313 billion cost-cutting plan to slash the government's exploding health-care expenses by lowering reimbursements to hospitals and payments to pharmaceutical companies. In his weekly YouTube and radio address, the president said the reductions will come over a 10-year period as his administration helps more uninsured Americans obtain coverage and the government negotiates better prices on prescription drugs. Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonnie Posted June 15, 2009 Author Share Posted June 15, 2009 There is nothing off the table according to this. ReprintPrint Email Font Resize Obama's health plan may mean payment cuts to hospitals By Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Robert Pear New York Times Posted: 06/13/2009 07:30:14 PM PDT WASHINGTON — The White House said Saturday that President Barack Obama intended to pay for his health care overhaul partly by cutting more than $200 billion in expected reimbursements to hospitals over the next decade — a proposal that is likely to provoke a backlash from cash-strapped medical institutions. Obama has insisted that his plan will not add to the federal deficit, and he had already set aside in his budget what he calls a $635 billion "down payment" toward the 10-year cost of the overhaul, which is expected to top $1 trillion. But Republicans and some Democratic legislators have been pressing him to provide details on how he would cover the rest. On Saturday, he used his weekly Internet and radio address to do so. Obama said he had identified "an additional $313 billion in savings that will rein in unnecessary spending and increase efficiency and the quality of care," bringing the total to nearly $950 billion. He did not offer a specific breakdown, but advisers said that in addition to the more than $200 billion in lowered hospital reimbursements, the president expected $75 billion in savings over 10 years by getting better prices for prescription drugs, and $22 billion in other savings. "These savings will come from common-sense changes," Obama said in his address. "For example, if more Americans are insured, we can cut payments that help hospitals treat patients without health insurance." He added: "If Advertisement doctors have incentives to provide the best care instead of more care, we can help Americans avoid the unnecessary hospital stays, treatments and tests that drive up costs." But hospital administrators are likely to oppose such cuts. Less than 24 hours before Obama's radio address, the president of the American Hospital Association, Richard J. Umbdenstock, issued a call to action to his members. "Payment cuts are not reform," he said, denouncing "blunt cuts that cripple hospitals' ability to do better for their patients." Dr. Patricia A. Gabow, chief executive of the Denver Health and Hospital Authority, which operates a 477-bed public hospital, said it would be "pretty risky" for Congress to cut payments to safety-net hospitals before knowing whether new legislation actually reduced the amount of uncompensated care they must provide. "What about homeless people, the chronically mentally ill, substance abusers and people with low literacy?" Gabow asked. Kenneth E. Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association, said the proposed cuts could be "devastating to hospitals that serve inner-city communities." Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolaa Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 Obama and Baucus have both made it clear on several occasions that single payer is off the table. They know it is not a politically viable option. Even though a slight majority of Americans prefer single payer, it would not pass Congress because of all the big lobbies - insurance, pharmaceutical, AMA, etc. Single payer has *never* been part of Obama's agenda since he became President. He favored it back in the day, but he knows it is not viable at this time, and he is determined to get legislation passed this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonnie Posted June 15, 2009 Author Share Posted June 15, 2009 Obama and Baucus have both made it clear on several occasions that single payer is off the table. They know it is not a politically viable option. Even though a slight majority of Americans prefer single payer, it would not pass Congress because of all the big lobbies - insurance, pharmaceutical, AMA, etc. Single payer has *never* been part of Obama's agenda since he became President. He favored it back in the day, but he knows it is not viable at this time, and he is determined to get legislation passed this year. If there is a national health care,one that covers uninsured or those looking for government run "insurance" how long do you think private insurance will last? How many will be able to pay the increase in taxes and then maintaining private insurance? Once their employer insurance is taxed as income you will see a move away from private insurance. And no,this is not off the table. Obama condemned it strongly during the election but since it has consideration. It has to be paid somehow and he is only going to gain so much from "taxing the rich". A few years ago a relative,citizen of Canada tallied up what she paid in additional tax to cover her "national health care" 5,000.00. Our private health insurance was not that high. I could not have paid an additional 5,000.00 and then pay our private premium. She also brought her husband to the US for some much needed tests. His waiting list in Canada was quite long. He did have cancer,a particularly fast moving type. He was sent to Mayo and had surgery ASAP Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolaa Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 Is that $5,000 a month or $5,000 a year? My boss pays over $1,000 a month for health insurance. Just for his family, not his business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonnie Posted June 15, 2009 Author Share Posted June 15, 2009 Is that $5,000 a month or $5,000 a year? My boss pays over $1,000 a month for health insurance. Just for his family, not his business. It is additional taxes per year to pay for the "free care" This was at the time my husband and I paid 4295.00 for Blue Cross-Blue Shield. They had to be put on the waiting list for the medical they were supposed to be entitled to have the tests for her husband. That waiting list would likely have shortened his life considerably due to the aggressive cancer he had. he came to the US and was seen and treated immeidately Many people pay very high premiums by choice. Instead of taking care of the everyday Dr visits personally the insurance company pays all. Nor do I have any idea how many children your boss is paying premiums for. Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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