Congress votes to spare doctors from Medicare cuts

[OhioChick]

Source: AP

Thursday, June 24, 2010; 7:25 PM

WASHINGTON -- Doctors would be temporarily spared a 21 percent cut in Medicare payments under a bill passed by Congress Thursday evening.

The measure would delay the cuts six months while lawmakers work on a more permanent solution. The bill now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.

There was some urgency to approve the funding because Medicare announced last week it would begin processing claims it had already received for June at the lower rate. Lawmakers said some doctors have already stopped seeing new Medicare patients because of the cuts.

"It is currently impacting doctors, and most importantly, seniors and military service members," said Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/24/AR2010062405322.html?hpid=topnews

[Spazito]

1. Excellent news!

I thought this had gone down to defeat, I am very glad to hear I was mistaken!

[Dawson Leery]

2. Something positive.

[whathehell]

3. Good!...I just heard Thom Hartmann say that Repukes had voted in

a awhile ago that would "gradually reduce" doctor's payments....They NEVER stop fighting "the New Deal".

[Change Happens]

4. Finally! Very good news.............nt

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Whew! The Privileged Class Is Saved!!!

Some docs would have had their income slashed to as little as 400% of the average Americans. Scary stuff.

[OhioChick]

6. Not all physicians make a fortune....

My physician told me that he makes 80K (is still paying on student loans) and has to pay for his medical malpractice insurance.

Not "all" in this field are "privileged."
:eyes:

[MannyGoldstein]

8. True. But average is close to $200k.

And a lot make far, far more.

I think that the average working American needs government intervention more than docs do. But they ain't gettin' it.

[w4rma]

9. So what? Doctors are actually experts in a field that very few people can do.

Get angry at people making millions doing jobs that any idiot with connections can do, instead.

[MannyGoldstein]

10. So are auto mechanics and IC designers

Doesn't mean we need to pay them twice as much in the US as they get in other industrialized countries.

[bluestateguy]

7. That's good, I guess

But it's only a 6 month reprieve and we will be right back where we were in about 5 months. And all because of that stupid ass law from the late 90's.

I have a feeling the Cadillac plans tax of the health care bill (scheduled to take effect in 2018) will also be this way: that is, it will never actually go into effect, but will then become a political football for the Congress to deal with every year.

[AngryAmish]

11. Thank god, they will be spared the humiliation of sailing last year's yacht

Bless their hearts.

[Catshrink]

12. Most doctors don't have yachts

[AngryAmish]

13. Or last years gulfstream

The poor dears...

[Catshrink]

14. And all those fucking student loans.

[Overseas]

15. Glad to hear it. No Medicare cuts until war profiteering is halted. //nt