C-span read an article today that says Bush has appointed a committee to study how to cut $10 billion from Medicaid and report back (after the elections) in December 2006.
A caller from Tennessee said that The Tennesean paper today has an article about one of Bush's appointees to this committee --- a former governor who mismanaged the Tennessee medicaid program.
Bush appoints crooks to give him advice on Medicaid overhaul. Bush times the report until after the mid-term elections. That must be Karl Rove's idea. Will we be fooled again? Bush delayed other major committees and reports to fit his agenda.
Full Version: Medicaid Reform
Common Ground Common Sense > Issues that Affect Our Lives > Health Care > Health Care Issues Archive
I bet the FIRST place Bush & thugs look to cut Medicaid spending will be services for people with AIDS, they've GUTTED 1/3rd of Ryan White, and gave it to those KNOW-NOTHING bible-thumping abstinence-only a$$wipes, they are tossing people with AIDS from housing programs, they allow drug-companies to gouge patients on AIDS meds, my Norvir went up 400% a month after they passed the Medicare drug fiasco.
Look at the date of this radio address. I guess he is getting back on track after 9-11.
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 4, 2001
President Announces Medicaid Reform in Weekly Radio Address
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20...8/20010804.html
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week in Washington we made dramatic progress on health care. And today I want to extend that progress one step further.
On Wednesday, I shook hands with Representative Charlie Norwood of Georgia, agreeing to strong patient protection legislation. Representative Norwood is the chief congressional champion of that issue. And, together, we broke six years of legislative gridlock.
The next day, the House of Representatives, based on our agreement, passed a good bill to give patients the care they deserve without encouraging frivolous lawsuits. The legislation protects every patient in all 50 states when a health plan wrongly denies or delays needed care. Patients are guaranteed a quick independent review of their case, and new federal remedies to hold their health plans accountable. They get a strong new set of rights in our health care system without driving up the cost of health insurance and discouraging employers from offering coverage.
This legislation is welcome news for patients. And I want to continue this momentum. Today, I'm announcing a new initiative to expand health insurance for the uninsured by making the Medicaid program more accessible. Medicaid is designed to provide low-income Americans with medical insurance. It has a noble purpose and some serious challenges.
Medicaid spending is rising dramatically. But the number of low-income Americans without insurance remains high. Clearly, this important program needs reform. Yet, states have great difficulty reforming their Medicaid programs because of complex and cumbersome federal requirements. It is hard for states -- much too hard -- to navigate the confusing and inconsistent federal approval process.
Today we are changing that. My administration will adopt new rules that empower states to propose reforms tailored to the needs of their citizens. We will act on proposals quickly without making states wait for months or years for an answer.
In return for this flexibility, we will ask the states to help ensure that their programs broaden coverage for low-income Americans. When states are free to try new approaches, the results are encouraging. Just a few months ago, New York state, led by George Pataki, asked for and got permission to try a new idea to cover more people with the same dollars. As a result, as many as 619,000 more New Yorkers will soon have health insurance.
In our new system, we will inform states in advance of the criteria for responsible Medicaid reform. If they meet those conditions, the federal government stands ready to help expand health insurance coverage to those who need it most -- no uncertainty, and no run-around.
The goals of Medicaid are too important to get bogged down in a bureaucracy. My administration cares about results, about getting Americans broader and better medical coverage. And on issues from Medicaid to patient protection, we are seeing results for the American people.
Thank you for listening.
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 4, 2001
President Announces Medicaid Reform in Weekly Radio Address
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20...8/20010804.html
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week in Washington we made dramatic progress on health care. And today I want to extend that progress one step further.
On Wednesday, I shook hands with Representative Charlie Norwood of Georgia, agreeing to strong patient protection legislation. Representative Norwood is the chief congressional champion of that issue. And, together, we broke six years of legislative gridlock.
The next day, the House of Representatives, based on our agreement, passed a good bill to give patients the care they deserve without encouraging frivolous lawsuits. The legislation protects every patient in all 50 states when a health plan wrongly denies or delays needed care. Patients are guaranteed a quick independent review of their case, and new federal remedies to hold their health plans accountable. They get a strong new set of rights in our health care system without driving up the cost of health insurance and discouraging employers from offering coverage.
This legislation is welcome news for patients. And I want to continue this momentum. Today, I'm announcing a new initiative to expand health insurance for the uninsured by making the Medicaid program more accessible. Medicaid is designed to provide low-income Americans with medical insurance. It has a noble purpose and some serious challenges.
Medicaid spending is rising dramatically. But the number of low-income Americans without insurance remains high. Clearly, this important program needs reform. Yet, states have great difficulty reforming their Medicaid programs because of complex and cumbersome federal requirements. It is hard for states -- much too hard -- to navigate the confusing and inconsistent federal approval process.
Today we are changing that. My administration will adopt new rules that empower states to propose reforms tailored to the needs of their citizens. We will act on proposals quickly without making states wait for months or years for an answer.
In return for this flexibility, we will ask the states to help ensure that their programs broaden coverage for low-income Americans. When states are free to try new approaches, the results are encouraging. Just a few months ago, New York state, led by George Pataki, asked for and got permission to try a new idea to cover more people with the same dollars. As a result, as many as 619,000 more New Yorkers will soon have health insurance.
In our new system, we will inform states in advance of the criteria for responsible Medicaid reform. If they meet those conditions, the federal government stands ready to help expand health insurance coverage to those who need it most -- no uncertainty, and no run-around.
The goals of Medicaid are too important to get bogged down in a bureaucracy. My administration cares about results, about getting Americans broader and better medical coverage. And on issues from Medicaid to patient protection, we are seeing results for the American people.
Thank you for listening.
The conservative groups already have their views out there:
A Road Map for Medicaid Reform
by Nina Owcharenko
Backgrounder #1863
http://www.heritage.org/Research/HealthCare/bg1863.cfm
June 21, 2005 | |
Medicaid, the massive federal–state health care program for the poor and indigent, is long overdue for comprehensive reform. Policymakers have an opportunity to make meaningful improvements in the Medicaid program. Not only will Congress need to meet its budget requirements to identify Medicaid savings, but Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt will soon appoint a special commission to offer short-term and long-term recommendations for the future of the troubled program. Concurrently, states are searching for real solutions to regain control and restore quality to their programs...
--------------------------
April 20, 2005
Roadmap for Medicaid Reform
by Michael F. Cannon and Adrienne Aldredge
Michael F. Cannon is the director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute. Adrienne Aldredge is a research assistant at the Cato Institute.
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=3740
---------------------------------------
This is a mutual fund company!
http://www.tcf.org/Publications/HealthCare...icaidbasics.htm
America is engaged in difficult and complex policy debates over critical issues. There are conflicting claims and disagreements over the meaning of the facts and figures relating to health care, poverty, tax reform, Social Security, and block grants. The Twentieth Century Fund hopes to help clarify these issues by collecting the best available information and presenting it in a series of pamphlets called "The Basics."
The intent of this series is in keeping with the Fund's mandate. Since 1919, the Twentieth Century Fund has sponsored and supervised research on economic, social, and political issues. As a nonpartisan, but not neutral, organization, our underlying philosophy regards government as an instrument, not an enemy, of the people, and therefore we strive, in the words of our bylaws, for the improvement of economic, industrial, civic, cultural, and educational conditions.
The Twentieth Century Fund also believes in the power of well-reasoned, well- researched ideas. These pamphlets are presented in that spirit. They are the Fund's contribution to increased citizen understanding and wiser governmental decisions.
A Road Map for Medicaid Reform
by Nina Owcharenko
Backgrounder #1863
http://www.heritage.org/Research/HealthCare/bg1863.cfm
June 21, 2005 | |
Medicaid, the massive federal–state health care program for the poor and indigent, is long overdue for comprehensive reform. Policymakers have an opportunity to make meaningful improvements in the Medicaid program. Not only will Congress need to meet its budget requirements to identify Medicaid savings, but Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt will soon appoint a special commission to offer short-term and long-term recommendations for the future of the troubled program. Concurrently, states are searching for real solutions to regain control and restore quality to their programs...
--------------------------
April 20, 2005
Roadmap for Medicaid Reform
by Michael F. Cannon and Adrienne Aldredge
Michael F. Cannon is the director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute. Adrienne Aldredge is a research assistant at the Cato Institute.
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=3740
---------------------------------------
This is a mutual fund company!
http://www.tcf.org/Publications/HealthCare...icaidbasics.htm
America is engaged in difficult and complex policy debates over critical issues. There are conflicting claims and disagreements over the meaning of the facts and figures relating to health care, poverty, tax reform, Social Security, and block grants. The Twentieth Century Fund hopes to help clarify these issues by collecting the best available information and presenting it in a series of pamphlets called "The Basics."
The intent of this series is in keeping with the Fund's mandate. Since 1919, the Twentieth Century Fund has sponsored and supervised research on economic, social, and political issues. As a nonpartisan, but not neutral, organization, our underlying philosophy regards government as an instrument, not an enemy, of the people, and therefore we strive, in the words of our bylaws, for the improvement of economic, industrial, civic, cultural, and educational conditions.
The Twentieth Century Fund also believes in the power of well-reasoned, well- researched ideas. These pamphlets are presented in that spirit. They are the Fund's contribution to increased citizen understanding and wiser governmental decisions.
Yeah they have our healthcare well planned for, that's why at the last moment they found over a billion $$$ shortfall in veterans heath services, and you know there is a MUCH keener spotlight on what politicians are doing/NOT doing for wounded vets, than there is for ANYONE ELSE, including children. 
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