Democrats Move to Assure Doctors, Unions on Health-Care Plan

[Excrement_Cranium]

Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate are moving to shore up support from two of their most important constituencies, labor unions and doctors, as the lawmakers seek to craft compromise health-care legislation.

Senators said they plan to ease a proposed tax on high-end insurance plans after unions protested that it would hurt too many workers. Lawmakers may also shield doctors from the threat of cuts in payments from the Medicare program for the elderly.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are both working to combine different versions of legislation designed to curb medical costs and increase insurance coverage. The criticism from unions, the Democrats’ biggest financial backers, has them worried.

“We have to be careful,” Richard Durbin of Illinois, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, told reporters yesterday. “We don’t want to see our friends in labor not supporting it.”

Full Article at Yahoo (http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20091015/pl_bloomberg/akolur9jkd3u)

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised to see Unions line up with big business against anything even remotely resembling a public option.

Health care coverage is one of the "trump cards" big business and unions use to secure workers, and big business uses health plans to stagnate wages.

I imagine that if people could work for a smaller, non-union employer that has less of the big-brother tactics employed by big business and unions, a livable wage, and an affordable health care option, the "big boys" wouldn't hold quite the same pull any more...

[don webb]

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Join the Mackinac Center as it journeys across Canada, documenting harrowing stories from real Canadians of long waits, physician shortages, doctor lotteries, special treatment for insiders and being forced to travel abroad for basic medical care.

If the U.S. changes their medical system, where are Canadians like us going to go for surgery?

What Canadians Want You To Know About Their Health Care System

When their health care system fails them, many Canadians come to the U.S. for treatment

Hear from Canadians so desperate for treatment they're leaving the country

Discover how rationing and shortages impose impossible burdens on Canadian doctors

See what happens when Canadians try to demand better service from their system

Find out what Canadians need to do just to get a family physician


Meet the Canadians who have a warning for YOU

http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=11145

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[Excrement_Cranium]

Best thing to compare this to: Atheist Icon and his struggles w/ the VA. These things are going to usually apply to things ranked down in importance. "Oh, that carpal tunnel isn't bad, go back to work."

The difference, is that in the US (or even the UK for that matter), one can have and use a private insurer in addition to the NHS coverage, and one can then get these things taken care of.

The 'ol "coming to America for treatment" thing? Well, extensive Canadian laws end up roadblocking simply going to the next province for treatment, so some Canadians end up coming to the US for non-essential labeled treatments. Their procedures still covered by the Canadian NHS in an American hospital, and at about twice the cost to the Canadian NHS system.

[don webb]

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Democrats $250 Billion Bribe for Doctors

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The White House and Democratic leaders are offering doctors a deal: They’ll freeze cuts in Medicare payments to doctors in exchange for doctors’ support of healthcare reform.

At a meeting on Capitol Hill last week with nearly a dozen doctors groups, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the Senate would take up separate legislation to freeze $250 Billion cuts in payments to Doctors in exchange for their support in getting healthcare reform over the goal line.

Without the freeze, doctors would see their Medicare payments drop by 21 percent next year and by 40 percent by 2016.

The AMA has begun airing television advertisements in a dozen states in support of the bill freezing doctors’ payment cuts. Considered one of the most influential healthcare trade groups, they’ve spent $8.1 Million on lobbying through the first six months of this year. Looks like it worked?

Hey, the Pharmaceutical Industry has struck a deal with the White House and the White House officials struck deals with Hospitals to lure their support, why not the Doctors.

The Unions already received theirs during the Auto Company Bail Outs.

Anything to get support making the appearance this is about your health care rather than more Government........:lmao:

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/63811-reid-offers-docs-a-deal

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[don webb]

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Democrats $250 Billion Bribe for Doctors

:27:

The White House and Democratic leaders are offering doctors a deal: They’ll freeze cuts in Medicare payments to doctors in exchange for doctors’ support of healthcare reform.

At a meeting on Capitol Hill last week with nearly a dozen doctors groups, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the Senate would take up separate legislation to freeze $250 Billion cuts in payments to Doctors in exchange for their support in getting healthcare reform over the goal line.

Without the freeze, doctors would see their Medicare payments drop by 21 percent next year and by 40 percent by 2016.

The AMA has begun airing television advertisements in a dozen states in support of the bill freezing doctors’ payment cuts. Considered one of the most influential healthcare trade groups, they’ve spent $8.1 Million on lobbying through the first six months of this year. Looks like it worked?

Hey, the Pharmaceutical Industry has struck a deal with the White House and the White House officials struck deals with Hospitals to lure their support, why not the Doctors.

The Unions already received theirs during the Auto Company Bail Outs.

Anything to get support making the appearance this is about your health care rather than more Government........:lmao:

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/63811-reid-offers-docs-a-deal.



Bribe to Doctors Shot Down in Vote………………………:drive:


Roll Call is reporting that the $250 Billion Bribe called the “Doc Fix” to the Medicare physician payment program was defeated in the Senate today. Reid couldn't even get a simple majority losing in a 47 to 53 vote.

Naturally Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev) blames the Republicans. Reid complained that the loss was a result of "activities and actions by the Republican-dominated Washington."

Seriously. A "Republican dominated Washington"?

Did Harry Reid miss the fact that the Democrats have majorities in both the House and the Senate as well as holding the White House?

How could Washington be "Republican dominated" when the GOP has little capability to affect the debate through the power of majority control?

If Reid can't even get this one through with a Democrat majority how is he going to get the rest of Obamacare passed?


Thank You Blue Dogs.........:You_Rock_Emoticon:


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2454/4035678146_c40245ca4d_m.jpg

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[Atheist Icon]

Best thing to compare this to: Atheist Icon and his struggles w/ the VA. These things are going to usually apply to things ranked down in importance. "Oh, that carpal tunnel isn't bad, go back to work."

The difference, is that in the US (or even the UK for that matter), one can have and use a private insurer in addition to the NHS coverage, and one can then get these things taken care of.

Now the only problem with a NHS you are going to exposing more of the "exploited"(read: poor) to a system that is inundated with red tape and bureaucracy. The poor have a better chance going to the ER to get help than through a Gov't run option.

The other thing, have both NHS and private? How are middle-class(read: working poor) going to pay more in taxes AND have private insurance?

[Excrement_Cranium]

Now the only problem with a NHS you are going to exposing more of the "exploited"(read: poor) to a system that is inundated with red tape and bureaucracy. The poor have a better chance going to the ER to get help than through a Gov't run option.

The other thing, have both NHS and private? How are middle-class(read: working poor) going to pay more in taxes AND have private insurance?


No clue. Ask a UK citizen.

However, it's not like NHS rationing of non-essential care is any different than direct denial due to lack of coverage, is it?