By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Do Electronic Health Records Reduce Malpractice Claims?
    February 2, 2013
    A Humble Opinion: Book Review
    May 3, 2015
    medicaid
    Paul Krugman: Stop Being an Embarrassment to the Profession
    March 7, 2013
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Bipartisan Cooperation on Medicare: I’m Getting More Optimistic
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health Reform > Bipartisan Cooperation on Medicare: I’m Getting More Optimistic
BusinessHealth ReformPolicy & Law

Bipartisan Cooperation on Medicare: I’m Getting More Optimistic

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

There’s been so much acrimony about health care on Capitol Hill that it’s easy to conclude that we’ll never find a political compromise on key issues. A month ago (Are we entering an era of political cooperation on Medicare?) I took the tack that there was reason for optimism. Until recently, Republicans showed essentially no concern for Medicare’s runaway costs, and used defense of the Medicare program’s status quo as a cynical way to turn seniors against health reform.

There’s been so much acrimony about health care on Capitol Hill that it’s easy to conclude that we’ll never find a political compromise on key issues. A month ago (Are we entering an era of political cooperation on Medicare?) I took the tack that there was reason for optimism. Until recently, Republicans showed essentially no concern for Medicare’s runaway costs, and used defense of the Medicare program’s status quo as a cynical way to turn seniors against health reform. Now that Republicans are starting to get real about government spending –mostly thanks to the Tea Party– their previous defense of leaving Medicare as is is starting to backfire.

I’m even more optimistic that I was a month ago that we’re going to get somewhere, at least on Medicare, and that Republicans won’t continue to make their whole health care policy simply an attack on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. There are a few reasons for my enhanced optimism:

  • In an upcoming special election Republicans are quite likely to lose what should be a safe seat in upstate New York, thanks to voter rejection of Paul Ryan’s budget plan, which restructures and cuts Medicare. That would be a well-deserved loss. It’s waking Republicans up to the fact that if they are serious about cost reductions they can’t do it alone. They need some bipartisan cover.
  • Congressional Republican leaders including Ryan himself are now talking compromise rather than confrontation. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, for example, said it’s time to have “an adult conversation” on health care costs. Ryan has reversed course, and now says he is open to settling things prior to the 2012 election.
  • At least a couple Republican Presidential candidates are showing a willingness to discuss health care in serious ways and to disagree with their Congressional counterparts

We really do need an adult conversation about health care costs and especially Medicare. One topic that should be on the table is inter-generational equity. That means we shouldn’t start with the idea that everyone currently in Medicare can keep their benefits as they are for life. It’s unreasonable that millions of relatively wealthy senior citizens receive highly subsidized Medicare that is partly paid for by lower wage workers who can’t afford health insurance themselves.

More Read

5 Questions to Ask When Buying for Medicare
NYMIIS: Medical Imaging and Meaningful Use – It Is No Longer an Option
The Patient’s Checklist
Non-Fatal Strangulation: What Patients and Providers Must Know
Giving Interns More Sleep is Not Making Hospitals Safer

When we’re ready for that conversation I’ll be excited to participate.

 


TAGGED:health reformMedicare
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025
physiotherapist at work
How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
Health care
August 20, 2025
Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs
7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
Health News
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

PCHC
eHealthMobile HealthPublic Health

Person-Centered HealthCare: Improving Patient Experience By Improving Care

May 24, 2013
Questions for Physicians to Ask & Not Ask During Interviews
Business

Questions for Physicians to Ask & Avoid During Interviews

December 18, 2015

Time for FDA to Hire Some Pharma Marketers?

February 3, 2012
BusinessPublic HealthWellness

Maintaining A Healthy And Safe Office Environment

October 31, 2018
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?