Heritage Blog Argues Against Additional Funding For Medicare

In keeping with the vein of conservatives changing their tune on Medicare just as soon as Democrats start trying to fix it, the Heritage Foundation is now slamming Democrats for having a discussion that could lead to increased payments made to Medicare doctors.

The Heritage Foundation accuses Democrats on the Hill and in the White House of "plotting to pass a bill, by as early as next week, that grants doctors a $247 billion increase in Medicare fees over a decade."

It's no secret that doctors treating patients enrolled in Medicare have faced trouble receiving reimbursements from the system and the problem is scheduled to get worse. Even the Associated Press article referenced in the Heritage blog post confirms that without a drastic change (such as a $247 billion increase), doctors who accept Medicare patients would face "a 21 percent reduction in Medicare fees paid to doctors that is scheduled to take effect in January as well as additional cuts in future years." 

This bill has the chance to change that, and ensure our seniors have access to doctors who are being paid properly.  It also, however, directly contradicts some of the conservative talking points that have asserted that Democratic health care reforms will cause a horrible ripple effect within the Medicare system that will cause America's seniors a lot of inconvenience, money, and pain.

Evidently, conservatives are under the impression that they can talk out of both sides of their mouth on health care reform.   

They want Americans to have access to quality, affordable coverage - but aren't willing to institute a system that will create competition and force insurance companies to start treating their customers like people instead of liabilities. 

They want Medicare doctors to have the ability to treat patients more effectively - but are unwilling to support efforts to make that a financial reality. 

You can't have it both ways.  Either you go without Medicare in the future or you spend money to fix it now.