Re: Medicare Bill

Gretchen Evans <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> On 29 Nov 2003 16:08:54 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Bettina) wrote:
> 
> >OK folks, what do you think of it? Is it a big fat payoff to the
> >insurance and pharmaceutical companies or a needed modernization of
> >Medicare? Why did 15,000 members of AARP drop out in anger because
> >AARP supported it? Why did the Wall Street Journal call it the best
> >bill ever? What the hell does it all mean?
> >
> >Bettina
> 
> I see it as just one more screw-up and payoff by the current crop of
> politicos with the ONLY benefit being a small increase in
> reimbursement for smaller acute care facilities.  The so-called drug
> benefit is a fiasco due to the gap in coverage and the lack of cost
> controls. 
> 
> It appears that AARP sold their older members out to gain support from
> the 'boomers' which may be a benefit to the organization or the death
> knell.  Only time will tell us on that move. 
> 
> Amd. of course WSJ would support the plan..  Anything coming out of
> the Reps camp has their support. 
> 
> Business as usual.. The needy and elderly got screwed; pharma and
> insurance made huge gains.. and the obvious flaws/problems within
> Medicare and Medicaid continue.
> 
> pixie

I agree, Pixie. And what really pisses me is that the Republicans are
putting the "we gave seniors a drug benefit" spin on it and by the
time it all kicks in and seniors realize they've been had, the
election will be over and you-know- who won't get blamed.

Bettina