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USCCB bishops, other Christian leaders: protect the poor during budget negotiations [CWN]
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R
Ridgerunner
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The article attributes the following to them:
"Any savings in Medicaid should avoid changes harming low-income beneficiaries either directly — by cutting benefits or eligibility — or indirectly by shifting costs to states.”
Which leaves what methods open to do it?
"Any savings in Medicaid should avoid changes harming low-income beneficiaries either directly — by cutting benefits or eligibility — or indirectly by shifting costs to states.”
Which leaves what methods open to do it?
J
JimG
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The statement says that any savings to be made "should avoid changes harming low-income beneficiaries either directly — by cutting benefits or eligibility — or indirectly by shifting costs to states.”
They were talking about Medicaid there, but there are only a limited number of ways to reduce the debt. If we can’t cut benefits or shift costs to states, the other option is to borrow, thereby laying off the cost to the next generation.
Has the USCCB or other Christian leaders issued a statement as to the morality of shifting this generations huge debts onto the next generation? Or have they addressed the issue of what happens to the poor when the debt bomb implodes resulting in hyperinflation or depression?
They were talking about Medicaid there, but there are only a limited number of ways to reduce the debt. If we can’t cut benefits or shift costs to states, the other option is to borrow, thereby laying off the cost to the next generation.
Has the USCCB or other Christian leaders issued a statement as to the morality of shifting this generations huge debts onto the next generation? Or have they addressed the issue of what happens to the poor when the debt bomb implodes resulting in hyperinflation or depression?
M
manualman
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There ARE other options for reducing Medicaid costs.
- You could still provide care for the poor, but require them to sign a waiver consenting to waive all rights to sue for other than direct, quantifiable medical expenses in the case of malpractice. Instead, Medicare would have a complaints board that could ban doctors from participating if they rack up more than a set number of valid complaints. I suspect liability insurance and defensive medicine practices are in the ballpark of 25% of what we pay to doctors these days.
- Those who are Medicaid eligible, but able-bodied could be required to volunteer in-kind labor to a local hospital or clinic, depending on the amount of public assistance they themselves receive.
- Based on #1 above, you could provide a less costly “try cheap fixes first” approach for the indigent. I’ve noticed in my own medical care some stupid things doctors do to try to avoid return visits. For example, I have two daughters that got strep throat two weeks apart last year. When the first went in, she was given the quick test, diagnosed with strep and prescribed an antibiotic. I went to the pharmacy and about died when the stupid drug cost $85! (AFTER insurance plan). When the next kid came down with the same thing, I asked the doctor if we could try a cheap generic first. She said “Well, OK, but it might not respond to it and you have to promise to take it at the correct times. If it doesn’t work, we’ll move up to a stronger one.” Translation: “I figured your insurance would cover it, so I picked the once’n done expansive drug to make sure you’d not have to come back.” If taxpayers are picking up the tab, people can deal with the trouble of making a return visit.
- Bring back simple and reasonable hospitals. We should ban hospitals from building glittering golden architectural marvels with our forced payments. Each patient does NOT need a 20x20 room and a private bath. Fine, if they’re hoping to snag a millionaire paying for it himself go ahead and have a few. The rest of us and CERTAINLY the indigent can manage having roomates.
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