President Obama's Big Liberal Health Care Rout No One Noticed

[sheshe2]

Below the Medicare "Doc Fix" Surface: President Obama's Big Liberal Health Care Rout No One Noticed

That most likely means that should Congress choose to offset this deficit increase, they are likely to come either from a further increase in taxes or payments (Republicans have crowed about this bill's provision raising the Medicare Part B rates on wealthier seniors, believing it would help shoot down public support for Medicare [fat chance]), or in cuts to other programs - and there the largest chunk of spending belongs to Defense.

Sure, they can try to cut the ACA or Medicaid later, but without being able to link it to the scary prospect of Medicare payments going down by 20% or a quarter, they will have a tough time justifying such cuts, and Democrats will have an easier time blocking them. They can try to raise the Medicare eligibility age, but they would have to allow the people in the gap to buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act, meaning they will end up making more people eligible for Obamacare! And, they would have to fund that too.

For these reasons, this was a pretty brilliant play on the part of the President and the Democrats. They used the doctors' lobby - which for some reason beyond my understanding often backs Republicans but have been seeking a permanent repeal of the SGR - to neutralize GOP threats against the two (count'em, two) other progressive priorities: Medicaid and Obamacare.

And oh, the law the President just signed also extends the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for two more years. You will recall that one of the first things Barack Obama did when he became president was sign a massive expansion of CHIP.

So while the media is either ignoring the story altogether or huffing and puffing about the fact that it isn't mostly paid for, the legislation the President signed yesterday is a massive progressive rout on health care policy: it solved Medicare payments, protected Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act from a politically potent axe, and expanded CHIP. The Rigth simply got rolled (and you can tell they got rolled by the loud houls coming from the Right precisely because they didn't get to cut other health care programs into oblivion).

Well done, Democrats. Well done, Mr. President.

Read More http://www.thepeoplesview.net/main/2015/4/15/president-obamas-big-liberal-medicare-rout-doc-fix

[still_one]

1. Pcp have been under compensated by Medicare. This should address that inequity

[jwirr]

2. K&R.

[Hekate]

3. Speaking of loud howls, there was certainly a fair amount of the vapors going on at DU...

...so I guess they didn't notice the Big Liberal Health Care Rout, either.

Oh Ye of little faith -- when will they ever learn that Obama is just not going to betray us the way they keep saying he is?

[sheshe2]

4. They didn't notice!?

What are you talking about Hekate? They must have noticed this, he was sure nailed about it here.

Oh wait, never mind today and everyday now, it is TPP! Who gives a shit about medicare and medicaid. That is old outrage.....must move on to more PBO bashing. As one poster said to me, scouts honor they did, post a good Op about this President and it sinks like a stone. Criticize him and it goes to the top of the page.

I kid you not Hekate, that is an almost verbatim quote.

[Hekate]

6. What I noticed...

...was a post about the Doc Fix that speedily devolved into the usual alarums and excursions about the ruination of Medicare, etc etc etc, and how Obama was throwing us old folks to the wolves, iirc. I only scanned it -- couldn't really bear to read the replies.

[sheshe2]

9. What you hear...

is my head banging against the table.

Ouch! K~ done now, will grab some aspirin.

[Jamaal510]

60. If this

was another Warren/Sanders/TPP thread, it would easily stay at the top and not sink for days.

[sheshe2]

61. No kidding Jamaal...

I am kinda sitting on a Warren Op for now, not sure if I want the flak posting it. It kinda calls out "Progresssives". Hey, she is my Senator and I love her, yet she is being used here, I don't like that.

[ND-Dem]

22. Here are some notes on the major changes included in the latest Medicare reform:

Introduces means testing to Medicare – This new law will require the wealthiest seniors to pay more for their own health care. Over time, this provision will affect more and more people because of inflation...

Prohibits first-dollar coverage in Medigap plans – Some seniors use what’s called a Medigap plan to help them cover expenses that Medicare doesn’t. The new law prohibits those plans from offering first-dollar coverage. Again, this is intended to get Medicare patients to use more of their own dollars...

Changes the way doctors are paid – ...the new law puts into place an even worse idea: MIPS, or a “merit-based incentive payment system.” This “fee-for-value” payment system will attempt to pay doctors according to health outcomes (I think this is similar to paying teachers according to test scores). While of course we want doctors to work toward the best outcomes for their patients, we should also understand that doctors don’t have full control over outcomes. Patients have a responsibility too, to take their drugs and show up to their appointments, etc. And paying doctors for better health outcomes could discourage them from seeing patients who are especially sick or don’t face a good prognosis....

http://www.iwf.org/blog/2796877/Medicare-Reforms-Become-Law

[JDPriestly]

45. MIPS. Wouldn't that simply create an incentive for doctors to try to avoid treating patients

who are not going to have a good outcome no matter what as well as patients who are for some reason unable to follow through. Think of mentally ill, homeless, just plain stubborn patients. Why should doctors be penalized for treating people who are not capable of following through on the instructions of their doctor.

That is not a good system. This will penalize doctors in low-income areas, doctors who care for the most difficult patients including the homeless and drug addicts.

And means-testing Medicare changes the very nature of the program. Sorry, but I think this bill is a big mistake. Let's cut back on imports, increase the wages of Americans and with those policies, we can increase the amounts we collect in payroll and other taxes and maybe we can afford the quality healthcare for all that countries like France and Germany, etc. provide their citizens.

Sorry for the self-deletes. This post posted itself several times. My fault.

[ND-Dem]

52. agreed. perverse incentive to avoid treating: the poor and all the other categories you

mention.

I think means-testing is going to put nails in the coffin: same as means-testing social security. what were universal programs, universally supported, became "welfare" for the poor only and lose mass support.

mass support is what kept these programs popular since WW2. They're doing this to kill them in the future, make no mistake.

People who support these moves, and there are many at DU, some are well-intended, others less so....

[Cha]

5. This was on here but doesn't matter.. needs to be stated again and again.. thank you, she.

[sheshe2]

7. Hey woman....

My bad, I missed it. I had a hard couple of days.

How are you doing?

Love ya~

[Cha]

10. No bad.. just thought I should let you know. LIke I said.. it needs to be repeated for

those who missed it.. and to help counter-act those who are armed with pitch forks, torches, and cheap ignorant pot shots..

"Obama was never on our side.. he's a plant "

Sorry you had a hard couple of days, she.. I can totally relate.

[sheshe2]

11. Sooooooo

those who missed it.. and to help counter-act those who are armed with pitch forks, torches, and cheap ignorant pot shots..

"Obama was never on our side.. he's a plant "

He is a plant alright, a plant with life

Full circle

[Cha]

13. Bummer.. that pic you have just comes up a little black box with a white x.

"Obama's a plant!"

[sheshe2]

16. I just uploaded it to post my image.....

[url=http://postimage.org/][img][/img][/url]


Does this work?

[Cha]

23. Yes, indeedy! I knew it would Good! It's brilliant, she~ Mahalo!

A Thriving Living Being!

President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The two leaders spoke on a range of issues, including Ukraine, Libya and Islamic State militants

http://theobamadiary.com/2015/04/17/the-president-and-first-ladys-day-14/

[sheshe2]

43. He is the circle and he brings it home...

every damn time.

I am glad the pic worked. Thank you for the one with PM Renzi.

Cha!

[Cha]

53. You got his

number, she!

[Major Hogwash]

56. What needs to be repeated?

That President Obama is the best President of the United States that we have had in over 50 years?
That President Obama outfoxes the Republicans on a daily basis?
That President Obama is leading the world in peace?
That President Obama has haters?

[Cha]

58. President Obama 101~

[sheshe2]

59. Hey, Major Hogwash~

All of the above and more.



I found this under the heading...Circle of Life.

Why is it everyone I like to talk to lives in another time zone? Sigh, off to work now~

[Major Hogwash]

62. Should it be repeated again?

Sheshe2 is the best!!

Take a bow, sweetheart.

[sheshe2]

63. Hey~

Getting ready to hit the pillow here, late.

What needs to be repeated. Best President ever.



Grace and so much dignity.



Done~





Thank you Major.

[PowerToThePeople]

8. Good on him.

I will applaud any gains that are made.

[MisterP]

12. oh NO, The "Peoples" View is back!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023545260

[PowerToThePeople]

14. I did not notice the link

Was not that user tombstoned from DU? Or something like that, I do not recall specifically.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

17. PPRed. Reason? "Troll."

But ol' Spandan is periodically brought back to life by BOGers.

[sheshe2]

20. So I guess you should unrec.

Then maybe delete your positive comment, PowerToThePeople. Such good news and now people are questioning the source of that news. Medicare and Medicaid strengthened. CHIPS extended for our poor poor children. They don't comment on any of that, just ridicule the source. I find that so very sad. A source is more important than them taking a moment to relish a true victory for people in need.

This place makes me tired when we can not take an ounce of good and celebrate it.

[PowerToThePeople]

21. i'll keep my rec and comment.

But, the source is of high concern. Possibly find another source with similar info?

[sheshe2]

26. Thank you for that.

I read what was linked, an anti Snowden post. Is that what makes the source a high concern? I am no fan of Snowden. Is that what makes my post so questionable? Not to you, yet others.

I get it, a positive thread about Obama and his accomplishments has to be trashed in some way. He just accomplished something that some here have been screaming for and it goes unnoticed or in some way trashed or questioned. Is this what we have become?

[PowerToThePeople]

34. if I recall correctly

The publisher of that site was once a member here, but constantly trolled honest DUers very rudely. Then got PPRd. I think his site had a bunch of very biased stuff on it, much of which was not fact based. All I am sure of at this point is that the linked blog makes me go "hmmm."

[sheshe2]

39. Well, Lol~

I get "followed" here a lot as well. A member popping into threads and asking the same question over and over. Then I had an Op that was high jacked, maliciously, crudely and so very rudely.Over 22 posts from a poster that never ever responds on their own. Surprise! It was a positive thread about Obama. That needs to be trashed here, don't ya know! I have been alert stalked as well. Pretty sure I am being team tagged.

I say hmmmmm as well.

[PowerToThePeople]

57. that sucks

There are some issues I hit that touch off bad responses too. I understand how it feels. There are many things this President has done or has not done that I do not approve of. But I voted for him twice and truly believe he is a good man, so am more than willing to support him on good initiatives.

[Cha]

15. That's right.. try and kill the messenger on the good news regarding Medicare, Medicaid, and

Obamacare.

Ain't gonna happen.

[sheshe2]

19. Thanks Cha....

Am I being called a troll here for posting about PBO and saving medicare and medicaid and obamacare?

[sheshe2]

18. Any comments on medicare and medicaid?

Apparently not.

[Cha]

25. No, that would be too much to ask of those who

would rather dump cheap ignorant pot shots on serious matters like Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare for those who need it.

[sheshe2]

28. They run around hair on fire...

And trash him, relentlessly, needlessly and venomously. Yet when he corrects a wrong, pulls off a HUGE victory, you get crickets or another incoming salvo.

And Cha, sadly I am not just talking about the GOP here as you well know.

Ef them!

[Cha]

31. I laugh at their silly pitchforks and torches..

[sheshe2]

44. ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ucrdem]

24. Rumors win the laurels and the good news gets ignored

Such has it ever been I guess . . . anyway this is some really good news!

[Cha]

27. "Obama's a plant.."

Really Good News~!

[ucrdem]

29. I guess there's a plant or two in every garden

if you know what I mean

[Cha]

35. Yes, if you want your garden to grow you gotta have a plant or two..

FL Michelle with the Kids planting seeds in their White House Garden, April 2015.

[ucrdem]

40. Now that's what I call a victory garden . . .

props to FL Michelle for breaking new ground, so to speak!

[Cha]

42. Such new ground.. when she started in 2009 and it just keeps

thriving!'

Goin' miss those two and their girls!

[sheshe2]

49. And look what you get when you water, Cha!

[Cha]

55. Great! Imagine! Earth, Seeds, Water, and Nourishment! Mahalo, she.. I love love love those pics

of Michelle in her White House Garden. So gonna miss that!



http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/10/michelle_obamas_white_house_ga_1.html

she~

[Kath1]

30. Obama's done more health care than any other President.

Thank you. There are a lot of us who do appreciate what he is doing.

[Cha]

37. Yes, we have the capacity to appreciate all the good he's done with Health Care, Women's Issues,

The Environment, etc etc.. in spite of unprecedented obstruction and hate.

Mahalo, Kath!

[Kath1]

32. MY kind of plant.

A great person making positive change.

[Cha]

38. Like we've established.. you have to have plants in the garden if you want them to grow..

FL Michelle with the Kids planting seeds in their White House Garden, April 2015.

[sheshe2]

51. A plant so firmly rooted.

Hope springs eternal.

[sheshe2]

33. Hey sweetie.

I was told. Fact. Here. A Member. If you post positive news about this President it sinks like a stone. If you post the negative you go to the top of the page. It is all about the recs!

Thank you ucrdem, it was such good news for medicare, medicaid and chips and the people. Sadly they finished their hair on fire outrage on this and moved to the new outrage de jour. They really need to finish a meal before they go on to the next course.

You still have that avatar!

[ucrdem]

36. Yep. Kind of sad isn't it.

But you know what? DU is still my go-to place for news because it's the only place I know that gives the good news any attention at all on a daily basis. And I know I'm not the only one!

Still love the avatar sheshe . . . I owe ya for that!

p.s. that reminds me I better renew before it disappears . .

[sheshe2]

41. Lol~ Sasha got him!

and they are having the time of their life!

You owe me nothing, mine is yours~

Love you too ucrdem.

[ucrdem]

50. Ah, summertime . . .

won't be long!

[sheshe2]

54. Here it is!