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If you disagree, then tell me how YOU would restrain Medicare costs.

If there's one thing I've learned over the past couple of years, it's how bloated these government programs really are. Definitely, cutting waste, fraud and abuse is part of cost savings.

Also, I would structure healthcare into different classes of treatment. If you are a low or no-income person with no means of financial support and have not paid into the system, you would get basic treatment but noth much else. No fancy hospital stays, and when you do, it would be in a barracks-style building; I'd also consider an HMO-style setup where you'd need a referral before pursuing specialty care. Instead of hospital emergency rooms for weekend, non life-threatening aches and pains, I'd create redi-medi infirmaries with nurse practitioners.

I'd also employ some use of health savings' accounts, and I'd open state lines so individuals could obtain better rates for group insurance.

I would also look to the free market, and get government largely out of healthcare. I would definitely look to streamline malpractice lawsuits without cause.

Those are only a few ideas, but surely they're a start.

Definitely, cutting waste, fraud and abuse is part of cost savings.

The problem with this is that everyone agrees with it, the Pols says it (over and over), but no one really does it. Why? Because 1) it is hard, and 2) there is REAL COST associated with fighting fraud. In the end, fighting fraud may cost you almost as much as the fraud.

I’m an RN and I like your ideas. I’m pretty sick of seeing welfare queens put up in private rooms w/ all the hotel amenities, and their demanding little attitudes, while I, a military wife, was put up on a “quad” room, had to get up and make my own bed, didn’t even get escorted out in a wheelchair, etc, etc ...

If you are on the “low” run, you fly no-frills. It’s not fair to those who pay.

Then again, these commies want equal benefits in everything, except in WHO PAYS.