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August 21, 2012
Meanwhile, ObamaCare Penalties for Excessive Hospital Re-admissions of Seniors Quietly Kick In
Some lively back and forth with regard to the impact of ObamaCare on Medicare.
Republicans have pointed out that ObamaCare cuts $700+ billion from Medicare.
Democrats and the Obama campaign have responded variously by denying this assertion and/or saying that this amount would be found by cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse and from eliminating subsidies to insurance companies. (Sidebar: Really? $70 billion dollars per year of Medicare funds goes to these items? What happens to the availability of care to seniors when Medicare withdraws these "subsidies" from insurance companies? And if Medicare waste, fraud and abuse is such a significant amount that it can be cited as a revenue source for another program, why do we have to wait for ObamaCare to fully implement in order to crack down on it?)
But as the discussion continues, ObamaCare is already impinging upon Medicare.
In Rhode Island, nine hospitals will be penalized a total of $1.6 million in Medicare funds, for Funding Year 2013, out of about a total of $600 million in Medicare funds, according to Edward J. Quinlan, president of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island.
Why are they being penalized?
Penalties for what the federal government deems high readmissions will be no more than 1 percent in the year beginning in October, 2 percent the following year, and 3 percent the year after that, under the Affordable Care Act.Some 2,211 hospitals in the nation will lose some degree of reimbursement ...
So to reiterate. ObamaCare has ordered that hospitals be penalized Medicare funds if hospitals re-admit seniors too quickly.
Then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in 2010:
But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it
In addition to the $700+ billion cut from Medicare mandated by ObamaCare, Speaker Pelosi, we're now "finding out" that ObamaCare is negatively impacting Medicare in another specific way - hospital stays for seniors. If ObamaCare continues to roll out, how many other similarly questionable items will turn out to be in it?
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"And if Medicare waste, fraud and abuse is such a significant amount that it can be cited as a revenue source for another program, why do we have to wait for ObamaCare to fully implement in order to crack down on it?)"
Under the current system, who has incentive to find it? It costs money and is akin to finding a needle in a haystack, not to mention that some legitimate customers get wrapped up in the review process.
btw, glad to see the fringe-right suddenly so concerned with preserving public health entitlements.
Posted by: Russ at August 21, 2012 3:39 PM"Under the current system, who has incentive to find it?"
WOW!!! Now isn't that a remarkable statement. Wasn't that a campaign promise by the Commander & Chief??? That has to be the most ludicrous thing you've posted here.You mean to say he could have saved us $70 billion a year since he was elected but just didn't have the incentive??? What is he waiting for? What would be his incentive if elected again?
By the way, I wouldn't get all choked up about Monique's comment. She's just pointing out the lie.
Posted by: Max D at August 21, 2012 4:55 PM"They gonna put y'all back in chains"
Biden was right. HusseinCare is gonna put evry'un in chains afore they know it. The Master Plan is to control your life. Like Hussein said "Just take a pill" instead of going for that needed procedure. Pretty soon there ain't gonna be enuff cash for da pill either. We's gonna "pass out" afore we find out what's in it.
Posted by: ANTHONY at August 21, 2012 6:12 PM"Wasn't that a campaign promise?"
Umm, we're talking about the President's plan here. Monique seems to think the alternative having a massive team of government auditors doing the work is the ideal method. I don't. Those closest to the problem are the ones best equiped to find the solution(s)... the providers, payors, etc.
Posted by: Russ at August 22, 2012 10:04 AMSo where is mainstream media on this anti-elder provision of the Great Obama Program? Who is letting senior citizens (and those who love their parents and other seniors) know that there will be an incentive for hospitals not to re-admit seniors "too soon"? Death panels anyone?
Posted by: riborn at August 22, 2012 3:46 PM"So where is mainstream media on this anti-elder provision of the Great Obama Program? Who is letting senior citizens (and those who love their parents and other seniors) know that there will be an incentive for hospitals not to re-admit seniors "too soon"?"
Indeed. Yet if this had been a provision in a Republican program, there would be screaming headlines in newspapers around the country and MSNBC hosts would be passing out on air at the outrage.
Posted by: Monique at August 24, 2012 8:50 AM