I don’t rant very often, because I feel like there are a lot smarter people out there posting blogs and usually I just scream for a little bit and feel better.  But there are certain things I feel that I must get on my soapbox about, and the proposed doc fix is one of them.

Our fearless leader (insert sarcasm here) stated on Saturday that the Republicans are holding up a bill that would remove the 21% Medicare cut from the new healthcare plan.  The problem is, he doesn’t tell everybody about all the other crap that is included in this bill.

I have learned one thing about this administration in the 18 or so months they have been screwing up our economy (is it over yet?).  They are very good about including things in their pork-laden, tax-raising bills that the Republicans want, so that when the Republicans do the responsible thing and vote against their garbage bills, they get blamed for voting against the parts of the bill that are needed and then are demonized to the American public.  In my humble opinion, this administration needs to vote on everything separately and not try to include responsible legislation with irresponsible legislation just to get the votes. 

One of Obama’s talking points on this healthcare bill was that older people were not going to lose their care and you can keep the plan and doctor you have.  I work for a small oncology clinic and let me see if I can insert a little reality into this alternate universe this country has become.

The majority of patients seen in an oncology clinic are elderly; therefore, they are Medicare patients.  If there is a 21% cut in Medicare reimbursements, the doctors will quit seeing Medicare patients, because they will not get paid.  And before everybody tries to say how evil doctors are for wanting paid, let me ask a question.  Would you work for free? And what people don’t seem to understand is that the majority of insurance companies base their reimbursements on Medicare.  So if there is a 21% cut in Medicare reimbursements, you can pretty much guarantee that all insurance companies will follow suit.  So the statement that patients can keep their own doctors and that healthcare will not be rationed is an outright lie, and this administration knew it.  And they are counting on the fact that there are all these new people that will end up on government-run healthcare, because you will have to get rid of your insurance, due to the fact that they are making reimbursement cuts and doctors will not take your insurance any more.

Please don’t think that the people that are supposed to be representing us are doing anything but representing themselves and the unions.  And the fact that they include necessary legislation in bills that the average American would not vote for proves it.  Besides the fact, they get another chance to tell the whole world how evil the Republicans are for not voting for something they need that is wrapped up in garbage.

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