Coburn has been using the "fraud" story on healthcare and he's full of shit

[zulchzulu]

Watching Coburn talking about how we need to look at healthcare fraud instead of any other reform, he is exaggerating what actually has happened.

After speaking to health care experts and searching on the Internet, we found that while Medicare fraud is a notable concern, statistics offered to document the scale of the problem are slippery at best. On May 6, 2009, Daniel Levinson, the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging that "it is not possible to measure precisely the extent of fraud in Medicare and Medicaid."

As a result, estimates of fraud in the system vary — widely.

The number Levinson offered lawmakers is one from the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association. Levinson said that the NHCAA — whose members include private insurance companies and government agencies — estimated that "at least 3 percent — or more than $60 billion each year — is lost to fraud." But as Levinson was careful to note, the $60 billion figure covers fraud in all U.S. health care expenditures — not just in Medicare, which would mean that Coburn is way off in his estimate.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/aug/27/tom-coburn/coburn-says-20-percent-every-medicare-dollar-goes-/

It was funny how Reid mentioned that Coburn was filibustering, which he was.

Obama made it clear that the fraud issue IS in the legislation.

[Botany]

1. Coburn would not or could not discuss health care reform

Coburn was just trying to fill time w/ empty talk. BTW in not one state that capped
malpractice payments did the doctor's malpractice insurance costs go down.

[AndyA]

2. Do you get the feeling that the Republicans haven't READ the legislation?

I don't think they have. In fact, I think they ignore every fact that doesn't serve their purpose. John Boehner and Eric Cantor keep stating that the majority of the American people don't want this bill, and that it should be killed and Congress should start over on it. Yet, I can't find any reputable poll that indicates this to be accurate.

So...they are either using incredibly bad information, or they are lying. I pick lying.

They ignore facts that have been debunked over and over again. I guess they think their constituents are really that stupid. And, if they're right wingers, they probably are. They believe whatever they are told as long as it fuels the fire within.

It's disgraceful, and every last one of them should be called on it and brought to task for lying to us.

[timeforpeace]

3. This guy has been itching for an opportunity like this. Not a good idea.