2/3 of the people who are enrolled in the Medicaid program providing direct payments to participating doctors for medical treatments, are "low-income people who are 65 and older or disabled." Robert Pear, "G.O.P. Blueprint Would Remake Health Policy /Seeks Trillions in Cuts /Medicare and Medicaid Costs Could Be Split With Consumers" p. A1, col. 1 (New York Times Nat'l ed., Tuesday, April 5, 2011).
About half of the people who benefit from Medicaid are children. Id.
A proposal to kill their medical care has been made in Washington. Part of the proposal is to replace poor people's access to medical care with a cadre of private corporations that would decide whether money should be paid for their medical treatment. We are told that this would save money. In fact, money is the only reason behind this proposal. It has been reported from coast to coast and you can read about it here. See, e.g., Noam N. Levey and Kathleen Hennessey, "GOP Bets Voters Will Choose Fiscal Well-Being Over Healthcare Safety Net" (Los Angeles Times Online, posted Wed., April 6, 2011); Carl Hulse, "Republican Plan Would Cut $4 Trillion Over Decade" p. A13, col. 1 (New York Times Nat'l ed., Monday, April 4, 2011). Unfortunately the news stays the same.
To paraphrase Mr. George Bailey when he reminded Mr. Potter about reality, people do most of the living and dying in this country.
I always liked the idea of living in Bedford Falls, even though it was not perfect. Potterville was a nightmare. Do you think differently?
The author is Co-Chair of the Health, Life and Disability Subcommittee of the American Bar Association Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee.
Please Read The Disclaimer.
Comments