Health Care: Obama Adopts A Good Idea From The GOP

[babylonsister]

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/03/03/health-care-obama-adopts-a-good-idea-from-the-gop/


Health Care: Obama Adopts A Good Idea From The GOP
Posted by Karen Tumulty Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 6:42 am


President Obama picked up a good idea from the Republicans at last week's health care summit, one that will add a badly needed dose of fiscal reality to the health care bill. What's more, this Republican idea will improve the lives of tens of millions of poor people.

It has to do with the dramatic expansion of Medicaid that is envisioned under the health care bill. Obama mentioned it among four GOP proposals that he embraced in his letter to congressional leaders on Tuesday:

3. At the meeting, Senator Grassley raised a concern, shared by many Democrats, that Medicaid reimbursements to doctors are inadequate in many states, and that if Medicaid is expanded to cover more people, we should consider increasing doctor reimbursement. I'm open to exploring ways to address this issue in a fiscally responsible manner.

Nearly half of the people who would gain coverage under this bill--15 million of the estimated 31 million newly insured people--would get it through an expansion of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Why did Congress do it this way? In part because it is cheaper, as we have written here before. The Medicaid program varies by state, but it generally pays health care providers significantly less than either private insurance or the Medicare program.

To keep the official price tag of the bill down, lawmakers have written it with an assumption that Medicaid would continue to reimburse health care providers at its current rock-bottom rates. But in the real world, that can't happen. As many governors have pointed out, that is a totally unrealistic assumption that would only compound what is already a grave problem. In many parts of the country, it is difficult to find providers willing to accept Medicaid patients already enrolled in the program. Is it reasonable to expect that the government could add 15 million more, without raising what it pays providers to treat them?

The Republicans deserve credit here for forcing some realism into this aspect of the health care debate.

More of this, please.

[bigdarryl]

1. And the rethugs still say to Obama fuck you and your health care bill

[Vinca]

2. It actually is a good idea, but Republicans will still vote "no."

[dkf]

3. When doctors can't give breaks to the poorest and neediest you know there is no hope

In controlling costs.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. This is an idea promoted by people of both Parties

Usually those who give a rip about rural areas. It is not a 'Republican idea'. Of course, some people here have a deep desire to promote Republicans. All that aside, this is about Obama, and how much he gives away without getting a thing in return.
This is an idea favored by those who care about rural areas. Of both Parties, as well as Independents. Call it Republican, if that helps you promote that which you desire to promote.

[Clio the Leo]

5. lol, how BRAVE of you to post an OP with that headline Babs.

;)

[babylonsister]

7. Haha! Trust me, I thought twice about it, but even I think this isn't

a bad idea. ;)

[ChicagoSuz219]

6. It should have a caveat...

...Doctors will no longer be able to deny care to Medicare or Medicaid patients.

[amborin]

8. the HCR bill's excise tax slams the middle class; straight out of GOP

[jeanpalmer]

9. What impact will this increase in payments

have on "revenue neutrality"? Or is that of any concern?