97 Percent of Medicare Doc Fix Deficit Funded
Today’s Health Alert warned against the so-called Medicare doc fix that is being jammed through the Congress this week. The Health Alert was written and published before the Congressional Budget Office issued its estimate of the bill’s effect on the deficit.
Over the 2015–2025 period, CBO estimates, enacting H.R. 2 would increase both direct spending (by about $145 billion) and revenues (by about $4 billion), resulting in a $141 billion increase in federal budget deficits (see table on page 2). Although the legislation would affect direct spending and revenues, it would waive the pay-as-you-go procedures that otherwise apply.
Less than three percent of this spending binge is paid for. Over 97 percent is deficit financed. This is how Republicans are showing how they can govern, especially on health reform?
Not in my worst nightmare did I think the bill would be this outrageous. As they say in America: “You gotta be kidding me!”
Any politician who votes for this will surely not be considered a credible voice in the debate over post-Obamacare health reform.
Here is the Heritage Foundation’s take. And AEI’s James Capretta and Scott Gottlieb.
