Comments on: Profiles in Courage: Medicare Vote Reveals Principled Lawmakers

By: Michael Reinemer, Vi

Michael Reinemer, Vi — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:00:43 +0000

The "competitive" bidding program was delayed (not killed) by Congress because this race-to-the-bottom approach to providing oxygen therapy and other home medical equipment and services was fraught with errors and access problems for seniors. Among them — the "competitive" bidding program eliminated most of the competitors, who currently compete on the basis of quality and service. Moreover, the home medical community took large reimbursement cut that more than equals the amount of money the bidding program would have saved. So taxpayers have, in fact, saved money. It's also worth noting that the home medical equipment sector represents 1.6 percent of Medicare spending and it's growing at a rate of 0.75 percent annually (per the most recent National Health Expenditures data).

By: Howard Tischler, MD

Howard Tischler, MD — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:21:51 +0000

Don't the republicans know that many physicians contracts are linked to medicare rates. So if there is a 10% reduction in medicare rates the insurance companies can reimburse physicians 10% less even though I am sure they wont reduce the rates to the patients.

By: Maggie, Rochester MN

Maggie, Rochester MN — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:20:30 +0000

I would like to know what else was attached to this bill that it passed so quickly?