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chemosabe
(67.172.64.173) on 7/1/2008 - 4:56 p.m. says: ( 12 views
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"Part 2"
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CONTEXT ADDED BY ADMIN:
END OF CONTEXT
Bush, for some reason, has it in his head (or his wallet) that "privatization" of Medicare would be a good thing. Now, it already is sort of privatized-it is run by private companies as regional carriers. Medicare is NOT administered by the federal government. (That is why when people quote that Medicare has low overhead administrative costs they are FOS). Medicare is run by BCBS in Floirda. They are currently consolidating Medicare into regional carriers. The one for the SE will be based in Atlanta and it looks like it will be run by BCBS or Cigna.
Anyway, Medicare Advantage Plans are private plans that patients can opt into for various reasons. many sign up for better "Part D" coverage on prescriptions. The difference is-these plans get paid 120% the Medicare fee for having these patients, then try to negotiate less then Medicare fees to the providers. Most function like HMO's. The Democrats want to get rid of them, and I agree. I see no cost advantage to the feds by these plans, they don't help docs, and the patients on them get less care for more money. The House bill and its companian Senate bill both targetted these plans to make up the difference in doctors fees. The House Republicans voted overwhelmingly to get rid of these, but the Senate Republicans did not. Bush has threatened to veto any bill which takes away funding for these plans. Pelosi and Reid refuse to allow any bill to come to a vote which does not defund Medicare Advantage plans. IMHO, the Democrats are right about this, the Senate Republicans are wrong.
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 Part 2 chemosabe 7/1/2008 - 4:56 p.m.
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