Medicare cuts give health providers jitters (But Obama said there are no "real" cuts to Medicare)

politico ^ | 11/19/2012 | By BRETT NORMAN

[tobyhill]

The $716 billion in Medicare “cuts” that got so much attention in the presidential election have already begun sinking their teeth into health care providers.

And there are widespread jitters that any further cuts as part of a year-end deal to stave off sequestration or strike a “grand bargain” for a long-term fiscal deal would deeply gouge some providers, if not put them out of business.

It’s similar to the perennial jockeying that goes on whenever Congress looks to cut health spending to pay for some other priority — the so-called doc fix, for instance. But this time around, having already been cut substantially to pay for the federal health care law, providers say the stakes are higher than ever, and some are digging in their heels.

“I think that major savings from arbitrary cuts is a fool’s game that will lead to the need for remediation almost as soon as the cuts are made,” said Chip Kahn, president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals. He said the hospitals have given enough.

That’s a sentiment echoed by Rick Pollack, executive vice president of the American Hospital Association. Hospitals agreed to the cuts in the health care law — the Affordable Care Act — “so we have to make those work,” Pollack said. “But we think we have made all of the contribution we can make. … That’s our view.”

The hospital industry stands to gain the most from the law’s health insurance expansions. But it’s also on the hook for about a third of the $716 billion in Medicare savings.

[freeangel]

Goodbye American doctors. Hello to foreign, poor English speaking, para health care providers.

[mo]

At the end of the day.....if you’re drawing an SS check and hitting up Medicare regularly......good luck surviving.....you’ll have the entire wrath and power if the US Govmt at your throat.

[moovova]

Just as many of us are rolling into our golden age.

Beware the bumps in the road...

[kabar]

Good luck if you are not receiving a SS check and hitting up Medicare regularly. There will be plenty of hospital closings and doctors retiring rather than deal with reduced reimbursement thru Obamacare. Everyone will be affected, not just seniors. And the poor working serfs will be taxed to death to support Obamacare, which is just the first step towards a single payer system.

[crosshairs]

But don’t worry, the members of congress have their own personal doctors and specialists available for them whenever necessary.