Obama’s assault on health care

[MNBrewer]

<http://wsws.org/articles/2011/sep2011/pers-s16.shtml>

"The proposed cuts will be submitted to the congressional “super committee” tasked with finding at least $1.5 trillion in deficit-reducing measures. Obama is urging the committee, established by the bill passed August 2 to raise the debt ceiling, to go far beyond its mandate, putting in place cuts that previously would have been considered politically impossible.

The committee itself embodies the anti-democratic nature of the attack on health care being spearheaded by the Obama administration. It is designed to impose massively unpopular measures over the heads of the people."

...

"Every gain of the working class in the 20th century is under ferocious attack by both political parties. The only way to halt this assault is to unleash the social power of the working class in mass and direct resistance—strikes, protests, factory and work place occupations—as part of an independent political movement of working people against the capitalist system and all of its political representatives. This requires a struggle for a socialist program and a workers’ government."

[pinto]

1. The Facts About the Independent Payment Advisory Board ( whitehouse.gov )

The President’s framework instead builds on the improvements made by the Affordable Care Act. It tackles Medicare fraud and excessive payments for prescription drugs, proposes a stronger Federal-State partnership in Medicaid, and includes a series of health care reforms that would save $340 billion by 2021, $480 billion by 2023 and at least an additional $1 trillion in the following decade.

Key to these savings is a proposal to strengthen the Independent Payment Advisory Board – IPAB, which was created by the Affordable Care Act. Here’s how IPAB works:

•15 experts including doctors and patient advocates would be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate to serve on IPAB.

•IPAB would recommend policies to Congress to help Medicare provide better care at lower costs. This could include ideas on coordinating care, getting rid of waste in the system, incentivizing best practices, and prioritizing primary care.

•IPAB is specifically prohibited by law from recommending any policies that ration care, raise taxes, increase premiums or cost-sharing, restrict benefits or modify who is eligible for Medicare.

•Congress then has the power to accept or reject these recommendations. If Congress rejects the recommendations, and Medicare spending exceeds specific targets, Congress must either enact policies that achieve equivalent savings or let the Secretary of Health and Human Services follow IPAB’s recommendations.

IPAB is a backstop – it would only take effect if Medicare costs grow too fast. We’re already implementing a series of reforms that will improve the quality of care and reduce costs. In fact, according to Congressional Budget Office projections, Medicare spending won’t hit the targets that would cause IPAB’s recommendations to take effect in the next decade. But independent experts agree that IPAB will offer constructive ideas and help keep Medicare cost growth per enrollee affordable in the long run

more at

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=439&topic_id=1951184&mesg_id=1951184

[MNBrewer]

2. Oh, whitehouse.gov

I'll certainly believe THAT!

[pinto]

3. Thought I'd add their POV for some balance. Obviously they start from a position of support,

while, imho, wsws.org obviously starts from a position of opposition. Folks can come to their own conclusions. :hi:

[tblue]

4. Ok. Sounds fair.

I just think it's sad that cuts to Medicare are not outside the realm of norm for this WH. I wish my reaction was "He'd NEVER do anything like that."

[AverageJoe90]

5. I hope so.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[Inuca]

7. Silly n/t