Democrats paying Doctors $247B to support Healthcare Reforms

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Analysis: Courting doctors in health care battle

WASHINGTON — In the special interest war over health care, the White House and congressional Democrats have the nation's drug makers and hospitals generally on their side; the insurance industry, not so much.

Now the bill's supporters are making a play to lock in the American Medical Association, the organization that says it represents 250,000 doctors and medical students in every state and congressional district. The principal enticement, a $247 billion measure making its way to the Senate floor, aims to wipe out a scheduled 21 percent rate cut for doctors treating Medicare patients and replace it with a permanent, predictable system for future fee increases.

The AMA, firmly in favor of higher pay for doctors, began airing ads last week saying the increase would "protect seniors' access to quality care." In case lawmakers need any inducement to act, a late 2008 study by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, which advises Congress, found that nearly 30 percent of Medicare patients looking for a new primary care doctor had trouble finding one.

Yet the AMA won't yet pledge support for the major health care bill that is the chief objective of the White House and congressional Democrats, despite a request that several officials say was made at a meeting last week with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Nor does it seem eager to soft-pedal another of its own top priorities, legislation to restrict medical malpractice payments.

"We continue to press for significant medical liability reform because we know that is a very important contributor to unnecessary health care costs," Dr. J. James Rohack, president of the AMA, said in an interview in which he declined repeatedly to say whether the organization had been asked to back off.

Higher payments to doctors and curbs on medical malpractice awards "in my mind are separate issues. I can't speak for how other people are putting this whole thing together," he added.

Evidently not in the minds of Democrats. Several officials say that request, too, was conveyed to the AMA and other doctor groups in last week's session with Reid. Not coincidentally, any limitations in medical malpractice awards are anathema to trial lawyers, whom Democrats count as among their most reliable and generous campaign supporters.

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http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...decI3QD9BEM6UG0

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

all i hear when i read threads like this is a cash register totaling up the cost to the taxpayer.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

all i hear when i read threads like this is a cash register totaling up the cost to the taxpayer.

It's a shame that Congress can't do anything without first making deals with the industries. I see why they're doing what they're doing - you can't push a comprehensive reform measure as you'd be fighting a war on too many fronts. Instead, you pick your battles in terms of where you get the most bang for the buck, then hope it works and build on that effort with follow-up steps. Only the follow-up won't come around for another, what, 15 years?

The medicare payment schedule is a clusterfcuk as it is since Congress has, time and again, built fee reductions into the plan - to make it look les expensive than it it - which it then defers on a fairly regular basis. Not a particularly good operating model. For neither side of the equation. Oh well, this isn't going to be fixed anytime soon. As long as fee-for-service stands, this nonsense is going to continue...

[Joseph & Ana 0]

Aww desperate libs paying doctors who don't support socialist meds..

I'll support it if he sends me a billion.

all i hear when i read threads like this is a cash register totaling up the cost to the taxpayer.

It's a shame that Congress can't do anything without first making deals with the industries. I see why they're doing what they're doing - you can't push a comprehensive reform measure as you'd be fighting a war on too many fronts. Instead, you pick your battles in terms of where you get the most bang for the buck, then hope it works and build on that effort with follow-up steps. Only the follow-up won't come around for another, what, 15 years?

The medicare payment schedule is a clusterfcuk as it is since Congress has, time and again, built fee reductions into the plan - to make it look les expensive than it it - which it then defers on a fairly regular basis. Not a particularly good operating model. For neither side of the equation. Oh well, this isn't going to be fixed anytime soon. As long as fee-for-service stands, this nonsense is going to continue...

The democrats need no one on board for this. They don't need the insurance industry, they don't need republicans.. Yet they still don't deliver because they're a bunch of pansies.

[mawilson 2,133]

I'll support it if he sends me a billion.

Yes, because you're that important.

[Joseph & Ana 0]

I'll support it if he sends me a billion.

Yes, because you're that important.

I didn't say i was important.. But I'll take a billion.

I know you thought you were clever with your little laughing smiley.. Too bad youre the only one.

Edited October 20, 2009 by Joseph & Ana

[mawilson 2,133]

I didn't say i was important.. But I'll take a billion.

You would? Thought you were against handouts.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

all i hear when i read threads like this is a cash register totaling up the cost to the taxpayer.

It's a shame that Congress can't do anything without first making deals with the industries. I see why they're doing what they're doing - you can't push a comprehensive reform measure as you'd be fighting a war on too many fronts. Instead, you pick your battles in terms of where you get the most bang for the buck, then hope it works and build on that effort with follow-up steps. Only the follow-up won't come around for another, what, 15 years?

The medicare payment schedule is a clusterfcuk as it is since Congress has, time and again, built fee reductions into the plan - to make it look les expensive than it it - which it then defers on a fairly regular basis. Not a particularly good operating model. For neither side of the equation. Oh well, this isn't going to be fixed anytime soon. As long as fee-for-service stands, this nonsense is going to continue...

The democrats need no one on board for this. They don't need the insurance industry, they don't need republicans.. Yet they still don't deliver because they're a bunch of pansies.

It's obviously a complexity that escapes you, Joe. If the system can be fixed so easily, why wasn't it done when W ran the show with a GOP majority in both chambers of Congress? Why did they extend an almost trillion dollar prescription drug benefit to medicare recipients w/o even asking the pharma industry for anything in return? They just gave your money away like there's no tomorrow. Who the pansies, my friend?

[Joseph & Ana 0]

all i hear when i read threads like this is a cash register totaling up the cost to the taxpayer.

It's a shame that Congress can't do anything without first making deals with the industries. I see why they're doing what they're doing - you can't push a comprehensive reform measure as you'd be fighting a war on too many fronts. Instead, you pick your battles in terms of where you get the most bang for the buck, then hope it works and build on that effort with follow-up steps. Only the follow-up won't come around for another, what, 15 years?

The medicare payment schedule is a clusterfcuk as it is since Congress has, time and again, built fee reductions into the plan - to make it look les expensive than it it - which it then defers on a fairly regular basis. Not a particularly good operating model. For neither side of the equation. Oh well, this isn't going to be fixed anytime soon. As long as fee-for-service stands, this nonsense is going to continue...

The democrats need no one on board for this. They don't need the insurance industry, they don't need republicans.. Yet they still don't deliver because they're a bunch of pansies.

It's obviously a complexity that escapes you, Joe. If the system can be fixed so easily, why wasn't it done when W ran the show with a GOP majority in both chambers of Congress? Why did they extend an almost trillion dollar prescription drug benefit to medicare recipients w/o even asking the pharma industry for anything in return? They just gave your money away like there's no tomorrow. Who the pansies, my friend?

Liberals are the pansies and that includes republicans. Unfortunately for your argument, its the Democrat pansies who are in charge now, so its their turn to pay up. Not to mention the repubs did not have filibuster proof majorities, or did that escape you too?

I didn't say i was important.. But I'll take a billion.

You would? Thought you were against handouts.

I am.. unless they're giving me a billion.. No one will miss it.

[mawilson 2,133]

I didn't say i was important.. But I'll take a billion.

You would? Thought you were against handouts.

I am.. unless they're giving me a billion.. No one will miss it.

So you're a hypocrite - you're against handouts unless you're the recipient?

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

I didn't say i was important.. But I'll take a billion.

You would? Thought you were against handouts.

I am.. unless they're giving me a billion.. No one will miss it.

So you're a hypocrite - you're against handouts unless you're the recipient?

so he's a democrat at heart!

[The_Dude 1,142]

all i hear when i read threads like this is a cash register totaling up the cost to the taxpayer.

It's a shame that Congress can't do anything without first making deals with the industries. I see why they're doing what they're doing - you can't push a comprehensive reform measure as you'd be fighting a war on too many fronts. Instead, you pick your battles in terms of where you get the most bang for the buck, then hope it works and build on that effort with follow-up steps. Only the follow-up won't come around for another, what, 15 years?

The medicare payment schedule is a clusterfcuk as it is since Congress has, time and again, built fee reductions into the plan - to make it look les expensive than it it - which it then defers on a fairly regular basis. Not a particularly good operating model. For neither side of the equation. Oh well, this isn't going to be fixed anytime soon. As long as fee-for-service stands, this nonsense is going to continue...

The democrats need no one on board for this. They don't need the insurance industry, they don't need republicans.. Yet they still don't deliver because they're a bunch of pansies.

It's obviously a complexity that escapes you, Joe. If the system can be fixed so easily, why wasn't it done when W ran the show with a GOP majority in both chambers of Congress? Why did they extend an almost trillion dollar prescription drug benefit to medicare recipients w/o even asking the pharma industry for anything in return? They just gave your money away like there's no tomorrow. Who the pansies, my friend?

Liberals are the pansies and that includes republicans. Unfortunately for your argument, its the Democrat pansies who are in charge now, so its their turn to pay up. Not to mention the repubs did not have filibuster proof majorities, or did that escape you too?

I didn't say i was important.. But I'll take a billion.

You would? Thought you were against handouts.

I am.. unless they're giving me a billion.. No one will miss it.

Seriously Joe, STFU, there are adults talking here. If you refuse to even acknowledge the process then just stfu and go to another thread.

Congress should have offered malpractice reform. It is hurting the industry, and is a major chip they could have offered without selling their souls for this.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

all i hear when i read threads like this is a cash register totaling up the cost to the taxpayer.

It's a shame that Congress can't do anything without first making deals with the industries. I see why they're doing what they're doing - you can't push a comprehensive reform measure as you'd be fighting a war on too many fronts. Instead, you pick your battles in terms of where you get the most bang for the buck, then hope it works and build on that effort with follow-up steps. Only the follow-up won't come around for another, what, 15 years?

The medicare payment schedule is a clusterfcuk as it is since Congress has, time and again, built fee reductions into the plan - to make it look les expensive than it it - which it then defers on a fairly regular basis. Not a particularly good operating model. For neither side of the equation. Oh well, this isn't going to be fixed anytime soon. As long as fee-for-service stands, this nonsense is going to continue...

The democrats need no one on board for this. They don't need the insurance industry, they don't need republicans.. Yet they still don't deliver because they're a bunch of pansies.

It's obviously a complexity that escapes you, Joe. If the system can be fixed so easily, why wasn't it done when W ran the show with a GOP majority in both chambers of Congress? Why did they extend an almost trillion dollar prescription drug benefit to medicare recipients w/o even asking the pharma industry for anything in return? They just gave your money away like there's no tomorrow. Who the pansies, my friend?

Liberals are the pansies and that includes republicans. Unfortunately for your argument, its the Democrat pansies who are in charge now, so its their turn to pay up. Not to mention the repubs did not have filibuster proof majorities, or did that escape you too?

Oh, I see. No filibuster proof majority means they don't own what they passed. Excellent.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

all i hear when i read threads like this is a cash register totaling up the cost to the taxpayer.

It's a shame that Congress can't do anything without first making deals with the industries. I see why they're doing what they're doing - you can't push a comprehensive reform measure as you'd be fighting a war on too many fronts. Instead, you pick your battles in terms of where you get the most bang for the buck, then hope it works and build on that effort with follow-up steps. Only the follow-up won't come around for another, what, 15 years?

The medicare payment schedule is a clusterfcuk as it is since Congress has, time and again, built fee reductions into the plan - to make it look les expensive than it it - which it then defers on a fairly regular basis. Not a particularly good operating model. For neither side of the equation. Oh well, this isn't going to be fixed anytime soon. As long as fee-for-service stands, this nonsense is going to continue...

The democrats need no one on board for this. They don't need the insurance industry, they don't need republicans.. Yet they still don't deliver because they're a bunch of pansies.

It's obviously a complexity that escapes you, Joe. If the system can be fixed so easily, why wasn't it done when W ran the show with a GOP majority in both chambers of Congress? Why did they extend an almost trillion dollar prescription drug benefit to medicare recipients w/o even asking the pharma industry for anything in return? They just gave your money away like there's no tomorrow. Who the pansies, my friend?

Liberals are the pansies and that includes republicans. Unfortunately for your argument, its the Democrat pansies who are in charge now, so its their turn to pay up. Not to mention the repubs did not have filibuster proof majorities, or did that escape you too?

I didn't say i was important.. But I'll take a billion.

You would? Thought you were against handouts.

I am.. unless they're giving me a billion.. No one will miss it.

Seriously Joe, STFU, there are adults talking here. If you refuse to even acknowledge the process then just stfu and go to another thread.

Congress should have offered malpractice reform. It is hurting the industry, and is a major chip they could have offered without selling their souls for this.

Except that the left is not willing to take on the folks that are filling the DNC coffers, the trial lawyers. Even Governor Dean and Senator Reid have said as much: That is the one constituency the Democrats cannot aford to piss off, at the moment. They would rather tax or cut union healthplans, than limit what the personal injury lawyers can make.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Yeah sure guys, beat the tired TORT reform drum. It's such a miniscule amount in this 2.5 trillion dollar system of ours. And a good part of that actually also goes to insurance company profits. Several states have undertaken TORT reform efforts (yes, states can do that) bringing the number and amount of medical malpractice claims down. All the while, medical malpractice insurance rates for physicians in those states actually kept going up. See a trend?