Worst Editorial of the Week Award
How could USA Today beat out Paul (if-you-disagree-with-me-you-must-be-evil) Krugman? I admit it was close. But consider:
‘RyanCare’ won’t work without Obama’s health care law.
Really? Last time I looked there was nothing in ObamaCare that would realistically lower cost, raise quality or even improve access to care. So who needs it? Ryan’s plan certainly doesn’t.
Though private companies are now insuring some seniors through a program called Medicare Advantage, this works only because it is subsidized by taxpayers over and above regular Medicare, and because companies cherry-pick the healthiest customers.
For “some seniors” read one-fourth of the Medicare population. As for “cherry-picking,” special needs MA plans cater to the sickest enrollees—costing about $60,000 a year. Do MA plans need an extra subsidy? More than half of Medicaid enrollees are in private plans that are saving Medicaid a lot of money. Get rid of Congressional micromanaging and MA plans can compete on a level playing field.
RyanCare (which is only in a skeletal form now) would need the types of exchanges set up by ObamaCare.
Both in Medicare and Medicaid, private contracting seems to be doing just fine without a health insurance exchange.
Then there is that little issue of an individual mandate, the one that Republicans are challenging in court. If seniors are to have a right to buy private insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions, insurers would naturally demand such a mandate.
Huh? There is no mandate in the current system for Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D or in Medigap. Seniors who do not sign up when they are eligible, however, may later face financial penalties.
It never ceases to amaze me how editorial writers can argue so passionately on topics they know so little about.
Agree. Dumb editorial.
Ditto. Not USA Today at its finest.
Wha do you get for writing the worst editorial? A plaque? A scroll? Something framed? Entered on a list in the NCPA offices?
Maybe ther could be a runner up award for Krugman. Hate to see him walk away empty handed.
During his campaign, President Elect Obama promised he “Would empower the HHS Inspector General to fight fraud, implement anti-fraud measures in CMS contracting, expand the scope of Medicare and Medicaid audits, strengthen the federal False Claims Act, encourage states to go after fraud, and increase funding for Justice Department prosecutors and FBI agents to fight fraud”. At rallies he said “We should also stop sending $15 billion a year in overpayments to insurance companies for Medicare and go after tens of billions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid fraud.” He didn’t mention shifing all the poor on Medicare onto Medicaid which lowered Medicaid drug rebates significantly, while giving “free meds” to 25% of Medicare Advantage Participants, doubling the costs of those who are both poor and over 65!
Over 1,000 False Claim suits have been on file for up to 10 years,and have doubled on this Presidnets watch, not acted on when the FCA allows 60 days for the Justice Department to accept or reject them. Occasional settlements and audits show large amounts are “missed” or uncollected. Healthcare fraud is hundreds of billions of dollars each year, while the Presidents “fraud detectors and collectors” AG Eric Holder and HHS Secretary Sebelius set a record last year of $4 billion in recoveries! $4 billion of a government admitted $60 billion a year, which government fraud experts say is $700 billion year!
Krugman is an economic expert? Hey Paul, there is a huge hole in our ship of state you might find if you took the time to look into it! That is when your back form your World travels.