The Democratic Senate Continues to play partition politics by kicking the Medicare benefits issue down the road---again. In December 2007 the Democratic Senate pushed the possible %10.6 cuts to take place in July of 2008. This is what doctors were saying in Dec 2007:
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Looks as though doctors are going to dodge a Medicare pay cut — again.
A 10.1% pay reduction set to take effect at the beginning of 2008 is off the table thanks to a deal worked out in the Senate yesterday. Instead, docs will get a 0.5% pay raise from Medicare, the AP reports. The tab for doctors’ raises: $6 billion.
But the last-minute wrangling on Capitol Hill may have led only to temporary relief of doctors’ anxiety. The fix is really a postponement for six months. So look for the whole mess to come to a boil again as summer hits Washington.
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So why do we continue to work in a system that is based on procrastination, and play with Medicare beneficiaries of all people????!!!!!
This is why not once but twice Senator Cornyn stood up during his first term in the Senate and said, NO! No more can we work like this! No more can I stand by and watch partisan politics dictated Capital Hill on the issue of Medicare. We need to fix and address this in the long term and revolutionize this weak system.
The Democratic Majority blocked consideration of the Ensuring The Future Physician Workforce Act of 2008, (S. 2729) a long-term solution to this problem. Why aren't people realizing that this man is doing what we are all thinking, and not playing by average political motivations, but working for the people.
Congress should be embarrassed to have seniors and doctors within every six months or twelve months have to be concerned about this issue. It puts people in fear that Capital Hill will not act and it also provides opportunities for the type of partisan, political gamesmanship that we've seen in abundance over the last few weeks.
As a practicing physician, I have to congratulate Senator Cornyn on his efforts. He helped to make sure that the %10.6 cuts weren't installed, that and for opening the door so that we maybe someday his revolutionary legislation can get passed.
