Today’s Op-Eds: The Medicare Cost-Cutting Debate; Two Perspectives On ‘Repeal And Replace’
How Medicare Killed the Family Doctor The Wall Street Journal
Medicare introduced a whole new dynamic in the delivery of health care. Gone were the days when physicians were paid based on the value of their services. With payment coming directly from Medicare and the federal government, patients who used to pay the bill themselves no longer cared about the cost of services (Richard M. Hannon, 11/8).
Health Care Providers Should Initiate Cost Cuts; Waiting For The State Government Stalls Action The New York Daily News
So how can we make health care affordable without gutting the quality of our hospitals and primary care providers, or shredding the medical safety net for the poor? The answer lies in health care providers taking a lead rather than waiting for the state government to do what it usually does in budget crises: cut blindly at everything on the table, because political interests get in the way of creative solutions (James Knickman, 11/7).
Our View On Medical Reform: Don't Try To Repeal The New Health Care Law, Improve It USA Today
As if Congress didn't already have enough to do next year on jobs and taxes, incoming Republican leaders have made repeal of the new health reform law one of their top priorities. What a monumental waste of time and energy (11/7).
Opposing View On Medical Reform: Repeal And Replace ObamaCare USAToday
By putting an end to junk lawsuits, encouraging small businesses to band together to provide health plans, forcing insurance companies to compete by allowing Americans to shop across state lines, and giving states the flexibility to make changes that best meet the needs of their residents, we can reduce premiums and still provide important patient protections. It doesn't take $1 trillion in new government spending, $500 billion in new taxes and $500 billion in cuts to Medicare over the next decade (Dave Camp, 11/7).
Irrational About Healthcare Rationing The Los Angeles Times
It's fair to debate how best to achieve healthcare reform. But it's hard to see how healthcare costs can be brought under control if attempts to make the system more efficient and effective get waylaid by irrational fears about rationing (11/8).
Attacking The Health Law: The GOP's Confusing And Incompatible Arguments Kaiser Health News
Allowing Medicare to continue going along as it has been for the last ten to twenty years -- which is what repealing the new health law would do -- would almost surely force a choice between much higher taxes or much worse access to care. If you don't believe me, just look at the plan proposed by Republican Representative Paul Ryan, who is forthright enough to admit that the GOP alternative to the Democrats' approach to Medicare is to reduce radically its guaranteed benefits (Jonathan Cohn, 11/8).
Andy Of Medicare Chicago Tribune
Aside from the suspicious timing, the ad is misleading. Griffith is right that basic Medicare benefits won't be cut. But that makes it sound like seniors won't feel the pinch of the new law. Many will (11/5).
Mental Health Is The New Antiabortion Battleground. But The Science Is All Wrong. The Washington Post
Women who think they made the right decision in having an abortion must be able to say so without fear of condemnation and without feeling that something is wrong with them. And women who feel sadness and regret should feel free to share their feelings as well. But their words should not be used to deceive women or to limit their choices (Brenda Major, 11/7).