The information in this article is from an e-mail I received from Representative John C. Fleming from Louisiana. Representative Fleming is a Medical Doctor. His website at fleming.house.gov has more detailed information and source information.
The Medicare cuts in the new healthcare reform act are approximately $500 billion. This is a summary of the cuts that will be made in the next three years.
In 2010, Medicare will cut reimbursements to inpatient psychiatric hospitals.
In 2011, these are the changes to Medicare:
- Medicare cuts to home health agencies begin.
- Wealthier seniors ($85K/$170K) begin paying higher Part D premiums.
- Medicare cuts begin to ambulance services, ambulatory surgery centers, diagnostic labs, and durable medical equipment.
- Seniors are prohibited from purchasing power wheelchairs unless they first rent for 13 months.
- New Medicare cuts to long term care hospitals begin.
- New Medicare cuts to hospitals and cuts to nursing homes begin (FY12)
- Medicare Advantage cuts begin. Participating seniors will face premium increases, benefit cuts, or both.
In 2012, the follow changes are made:
- Medicare reimbursements for dialysis treatments are cut.
- Medicare cuts to hospice begin.
In 2013 (after the Presidential election) Medicare reimbursements to hospitals that serve low-income seniors will be cut.
According to the email:
"WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: When providers get paid less by Medicare for services seniors depend on, many may be forced to decrease their services or close some of their locations just to make ends meet. This means that seniors may experience a decrease in their access to essential care, which is already a problem for many in rural districts. The cuts to Medicare Advantage may cause many of these insurance providers to stop offering plans to seniors, forcing seniors back into traditional Medicare."
The bottom line here is that healthcare reform is being done at the expense of senior citizens. As the baby boomers become eligible for Medicare, the money that Medicare receives from the government will be cut. The people who have paid into Medicare almost all of their lives are the ones whose benefits are being cut. Meanwhile, there is nothing in this bill to prevent illegal aliens who have paid nothing into Medicare from getting all the expensive medical treatment they need (assuming they are the right age).
This is a bill that needs to be repealed and replaced with true healthcare reform--reform that will allow the private sector to make enough money to treat the poor and the senior citizens to get the healthcare they need. Vote Republican in November to see "Repeal and Replace."
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