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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jagfan who wrote (300082)	9/24/2002 8:27:17 PM
From: Mr. Whist	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Another example of the Republicans urinating on America's working class so millionaires can keep more of their money. msnbc.com Headline: Cuts in Medicare payments mulled Bush administration reportedly proposes sharp reduction ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK, Sept. 22 — Medicare payments allocated to hospitals to cover many drugs and outpatient medical procedures would be reduced sharply under a Bush administration proposal, a newspaper reported Sunday. The cuts would affect a wide range of drugs, including those used to treat cancer and arthritis, the New York Times said. It also would reduce payments used to cover medical procedures ranging from the implantation of battery-operated pacemakers to routine breast biopsies, it said. Technology enhancements have allowed many hospitals to increase the number of outpatient services that they provide. There were more than 110 million Medicare claims for outpatient services filed by hospitals last year, the Times said. But the government is expected to target some of these same services in its attempt to balance the budget. Federal health officials said Medicare had been overcharged for many outpatient services, the Times said. Hospitals receive a fixed amount of money from Medicare for each outpatient service they offer. The services are grouped together by categories, and a standard payment is set for each category. Under the proposal, the payment for a unit of red blood cells for an outpatient would be cut from $137 to $83, a 39 percent decrease. The government would cut its payment for Remicade, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, by 39 percent. Medicare would reduce by 67 percent its payments for implanting infusion pumps, which deliver medication for severe pain. “Hospitals will not be able to continue providing chemotherapy at the proposed rates,” said Dr. Edward L. Braud of Springfield, Ill., president of the Association of Community Cancer Centers, whose members treat more than half the nation’s cancer patients. “Patients will have less access to care.” The government is expected to set the payment rates on Jan. 1 following a period of public consultation, the Times said.

To: Jagfan who wrote (300082)	9/24/2002 8:45:15 PM
From: Skywatcher	Respond to of 769670

Come up with something concrete.....other than your pathetic Christian right wing rhetoric against sex..... CC