Senate Votes Reversal of Cuts in Medicare Doctor Fees, 69-30

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The Senate voted final passage of legislation that would halt a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements to doctors, as Senator Edward Kennedy returned to the Capitol for the first time since brain surgery for cancer.

Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, arrived to a standing ovation from colleagues and cast one of 69 votes to take up the measure, more than the two-thirds margin that would be required to override President George W. Bush's threatened veto. All 30 votes in opposition came from Republicans.

...

"I return to the Senate today to keep a promise to our senior citizens -- and that's to protect Medicare,'' Kennedy said in an e-mailed statement after the vote.

...

The only senator absent was John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. McCain, campaigning today in Ohio, said he would have voted against taking up the legislation.

...

Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, voted for the Medicare measure.

"John McCain has said that he would have opposed this bill, demonstrating yet again that he's more than willing to put the interests of the health insurance industry over our nation's 44 million seniors and 9 million uniformed service members,'' Obama said in an e-mailed statement.

...

The American Medical Association, which represents doctors, and the AARP, the largest group for Americans ages 50 and older, urged Republican senators to change their votes and support the proposed legislation.

Nine Republicans switched their votes today to support the measure.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...gs&refer=us

[kerewin21 2]

Thank goodness... lots of doctors were planning to stop seeing Medicare patients because it's simply unreasonable to pay them less money when the costs of running a practice inevitable go up with time in this economy. Some doctors will drop the Medicare patients anyway and when seniors start complaining that they can't find a doctor willing to see them, eventually Congress will realize that this is not the best way to curb healthcare spending.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Hooray for the Democrats! The true protectors of our unalienable rights.

[Ban Hammer 14,586]

Hooray for the Democrats! The true protectors of our unalienable rights.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Hooray for the Democrats! The true protectors of our unalienable rights.

[zqt3344 21]

Rightttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

Hooray for the Democrats! The true protectors of our unalienable rights.

[Teacher Mark 53]

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Thank goodness... lots of doctors were planning to stop seeing Medicare patients because it's simply unreasonable to pay them less money when the costs of running a practice inevitable go up with time in this economy. Some doctors will drop the Medicare patients anyway and when seniors start complaining that they can't find a doctor willing to see them, eventually Congress will realize that this is not the best way to curb healthcare spending.

This sort of happened in the UK with dentistry - most of the practices now only do private dental work, because the NHS stuff just isn't cost-effective.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Thank goodness... lots of doctors were planning to stop seeing Medicare patients because it's simply unreasonable to pay them less money when the costs of running a practice inevitable go up with time in this economy. Some doctors will drop the Medicare patients anyway and when seniors start complaining that they can't find a doctor willing to see them, eventually Congress will realize that this is not the best way to curb healthcare spending.

We're a greying nation. As the boomers age en masse, it will be more important than ever to take care of our seniors.

[almaty 19]

spot on...

and it was the right thing to do.....

[Chica Yeyé 41]

spot on...

and it was the right thing to do.....

ok you made your point. now shut up and put on your Depends.

[almaty 19]

spot on...

and it was the right thing to do.....

ok you made your point. now shut up and put on your Depends.

just as soon as i get my enema

[Chica Yeyé 41]

spot on...

and it was the right thing to do.....

ok you made your point. now shut up and put on your Depends.

just as soon as i get my enema

EEEEEEWWWWW... every time I want to join the "be disgusting" competition, you outdo yourself brother Dean. I am humbled.

[Sister Fracas 5]

Thank goodness... lots of doctors were planning to stop seeing Medicare patients because it's simply unreasonable to pay them less money when the costs of running a practice inevitable go up with time in this economy. Some doctors will drop the Medicare patients anyway and when seniors start complaining that they can't find a doctor willing to see them, eventually Congress will realize that this is not the best way to curb healthcare spending.

We're a greying nation. As the boomers age en masse, it will be more important than ever to take care of our seniors.

Yeah, I guess the thirty who voted against it aren't going to age though... yeah, that's it!

[Heracles 417]

Americans want want cheap healthcare but at the same time also want universal healthcare.