"Red, what you have to say on Bush's Medicare plan sounds good, but you have to look at the real results of what's happening. Sure, Bush is spending a ton of money on "Medicare reform"...but just how is he reforming it? Well, the biggest highlight of his new plan, as far as I can see, is the federal government is now _explicitly prohibited_ from negotiating prices on the behalf of beneficiaries. His new plan is giving massive profits to the insurance and drugs companies. I do have to hand it to him on one thing, though: his new plan will enable seniors nationwide to purchase drugs at insanely high prices that will inevitably line the drug and insurance company's pockets. In addition, we're no longer allowed to go to Canada or Mexico to get our drugs. "
as i have said before bush isnt against getting drugs from canada. he just wants to make sure they are safe.
"Interestingly, the drug industry has spent $650 million on politicians since 1997, 80% of which went to Republicans."
what are you talking about?
"$12 billion went directly to insurance companies and HMOs to keep them from leaving Medicare. Bush wants to make sure that Medicare is the only system, and he wants to make sure that the alliance between Republicans and the drug industry will never end. I've dealt very personally and very recently with Medicare, and it's stricter and less flexible than ever. Bush claims to be spending $400 billion to "reform Medicare", but in reality he's spending $400 billion to screw over seniors nationwide and get money in the hands of his true supporters. As usual, he's relying on the general American public not to catch on. And, as usual, the general American public isn't noticing a thing."
im gonna post a couple of articles feel free to skim through them.
Setting the Record Straight: The President Has Led Efforts To Reduce Prescription Drug Costs
Kerry Claim: President Bush has changed his position on importing prescription drugs.
The Truth: The Medicare Modernization Act signed last year by the President authorizes the importation of drugs. However, similar to laws under the previous Administration, this was dependent on certification of drug safety by the Department of Health and Human Services. But the Food and Drug Administration has not yet been able to certify drug safety because of remaining concerns about contaminated, expired or otherwise inferior medicines. In 2003, the majority of packages examined by inspectors contained illegal, unapproved drugs and 88 percent of shipments inspected last summer contained unapproved drugs. Moreover, a study by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has concluded that drug importation will result in little or no savings for consumers.
Lowering the cost of prescription drugs is one of the President’s top priorities, and he has made historic steps toward this goal without risking the safety of American consumers. The Medicare bill the President signed last December includes the first prescription drug benefit in the history of the Medicare program. New Medicare-approved discount cards are saving millions of seniors up to 60 percent on prescription drugs. In addition, low-income seniors will receive a total of $1200 over the next 18 months to help them buy medicine at these already-reduced costs. Finally, the President has led the effort to bring generic drugs to market sooner, a move that will save Americans around $35 billion in drug costs over the next ten years.
Kerry’s misleading attacks cannot hide the reality that the President has made great progress in reducing prescription drug costs, while Kerry is promising to repeal this much needed benefit for seniors.
THE RAW DEAL: John Kerry Opposes Cost-Saving Medical Liability Reforms
"John Kerry's opposition to medical liability reform makes it impossible for him to credibly speak about lowering health care costs. Medical liability lawsuits are costing Americans as much as $108 billion dollars each year and causing some of America's best doctors to leave their state or quit practicing altogether. Rather than supporting the President's common-sense reform plan, Kerry has opposed medical liability reform at least ten times, bowing to the interests of the trial lawyers who have given him more money than any other senator over the past 15 years."
Kerry Talks About Lowering Health Care Costs
Kerry Says "We Need A President Who Understands That Our Businesses Can't Thrive" When Faced With High Health Care Costs. "'America can't afford four more years of a plan that hasn't saved us a single dime or created a single job,' [Kerry] said in a statement late Wednesday. 'We need a president who understands that our businesses can't thrive when they are saddled with soaring health care costs and neither can our economy.'" (Nedra Pickler, "Kerry Connects Job Loss And Higher Health Costs, Blames Bush," The Associated Press, 8/19/04)
But Kerry Opposes Medical Liability Reform
Kerry Opposed Or Voted To Block Medical Liability Reform At Least Ten Times.
Kerry Missed Both 2004 Votes On Medical Liability Reform. The February 2004 vote was a motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill that would place caps on damage awards in medical malpractice lawsuits against obstetricians and gynecologists. The April 2004 vote was a motion to invoke cloture on a similar bill that would curb awards against emergency and trauma center personnel, as well as ob-gyns.
Medical Liability Reform Will Reduce Health Care Costs For American Families
Medical Liability Reform Could Save Between $60 Billion And $108 Billion In Health Care Costs Annually, Making Health Insurance More Affordable For Millions. "The [medical malpractice] litigation system also imposes large indirect costs on the health care system. Defensive medicine that is caused by unlimited and unpredictable liability awards not only increases patients' risk but it also adds costs. The leading study estimates that limiting unreasonable awards for non-economic damages could reduce health care costs by 5-9% without adversely affecting quality of care. This would save $60-108 billion in health care costs each year. These savings would lower the cost of health insurance and permit an additional 2.4-4.3 million Americans to obtain insurance." ("Confronting The New Health Care Crisis: Improving Health Care Quality And Lowering Costs By Fixing Our Medical Liability System," U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services, 7/25/02)
Litigation Costs A Family Of Four $3,000 A Year In Higher Prices And Insurance Premiums. "Mr Edwards has had two successful but controversial careers: first as trial lawyer and then as an economic populist. Republican attempts to paint him as an ambulance-chaser may be a little crude: Mr Edwards's clients included plenty of children who were horrifically harmed by corporate negligence. But they are right to say the country's tort litigation system is a monster. The litigation industry consumes some $230 billion a year—or $3,000 for every family of four—in higher prices and insurance premiums. The industry also adds to the soaring costs of health care because of "defensive" tests and procedures. (Mr Edwards made some of his fortune suing obstetricians.)" ("Is The Wunderkind So Wonderful?" Economist, 7/31/04)
Statement by Bush-Cheney '04 Iowa Health Care Chair Dr. James Nepola
IOWA CITY, IA – Bush-Cheney '04 Iowa Health Care Chair Dr. James Nepola issued the following statement today:
"No patient has ever been cured by a frivolous lawsuit, but John Kerry and his running mate oppose President Bush's common-sense plan to reform our medical liability system. Kerry's healthcare plan is filled with empty promises and fails to address the reality that Iowa's healthcare system is suffering from malpractice lawsuits that have driven insurance premiums up to levels twice as high as those in Nebraska. Already second to last in the nation for physicians per capita, our state cannot afford to lose more doctors to the growing medical liability crisis that is costing an average American family of four $3,000 each year. Iowans are not going to trust a candidate who puts the needs of our patients second to the interests of trial lawyers who have donated more money to him than any other U.S. senator over the past fifteen years.
"John Kerry hasn't just opposed medical liability reform at least ten times, he has also said he would 'repeal' the bipartisan Medicare bill that will guarantee affordable prescription drugs for Iowa seniors and voted against a $25 billion rural healthcare package to benefit states like Iowa. Kerry has consistently voted against affordable healthcare for Iowa's families, and Iowa's families will vote against him in November."
Pennsylvania Medical Society PAC Endorses President George W. Bush
HARRISBURG, PA - On August 3, 2004, the Pennsylvania Medical Society PAC (PAMPAC) declared their endorsement of President George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election; marking the first time in the 35-year history of the organization they endorsed a presidential candidate.
In their formal endorsement letter to President Bush, PAMPAC highlighted the President's "tireless work on behalf of the nation's physicians and [their] patients," and pointed out the President's "indefatigable efforts to reform our nation's medical liability system, which has spiraled out of control."
President Bush has proposed a framework for addressing the medical liability crisis. A few of the measures the President has proposed to Congress include securing the ability of injured patients to get quick, unlimited compensation for their "economic losses," and ensuring that recoveries for non-economic damages do not exceed a reasonable amount ($250,000).
Pennsylvania has been identified by the American Medical Association as one of 12 states in which the malpractice litigation climate has reached "crisis proportions." More than 2,400 health services jobs have been eliminated or lost in Pennsylvania due to hospitals' skyrocketing malpractice premiums. The liability crisis in the commonwealth has caused more than 1,700 Pennsylvania physicians to either relocate to other states (941), retire earlier than planned (176), close their practices (228), or significantly curtail the medical services they offer (393).
The Pennsylvania Medical Society is the largest association of doctors in the commonwealth. PAMPAC was joined by two other groups - the Politically Active Physicians Association and the Pennsylvania Orthopedic Society - in their endorsement. Mrs. Bush accepted their endorsement on behalf of President Bush on August 9, 2004 in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.
Medicare Drug Discount Cards Help Seniors Save on Prescription Drug Costs
More than 4.1 million seniors are already using their cards to save money on their medicines. More than 100,000 beneficiaries are signing up every week. Studies conducted by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Kaiser Family Foundation have shown that these cards are delivering real savings to Medicare beneficiaries.
About one million low-income seniors have qualified for extra assistance. In addition to these savings, low-income seniors struggling with high drug costs are getting a $600 a year credit - a total of $1,200 through the end of 2005 - to help pay for prescriptions. And most major pharmaceutical companies have agreed to make their drugs available for nominal fees once a beneficiary has spent his or her entire subsidy.
Signing up for the new cards is easy. While millions of seniors already are saving on their prescriptions, millions more are eligible. Beneficiaries can call 1-800-MEDICARE, visit
www.medicare.gov, or call their state’s Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to sign up for real savings.
Real Savings for Seniors
Seniors often have had to pay full price for drugs. Through the Medicare-approved drug discount program, the purchasing power of seniors is finally being pooled to provide real savings on prescriptions. And the drug card program also gives seniors unprecedented information on drug prices to comparison shop.
Seniors can use the card to save 15 to 30 percent off the usual retail price of most brand name drugs and more on generics at neighborhood pharmacies. These discounted prices at neighborhood drug stores are lower than those offered by popular mail order pharmacies. For Medicare beneficiaries who are comfortable with mail-order, a recent study found savings of 7 to 24 percent or more on mail-order prices for brand name drugs through Medicare-approved cards in comparison to some Internet sources.
Potential savings from the cards are even greater when seniors choose generics. A CMS study shows that savings on generic drugs range from 37 to 65 percent below the average generic prices paid by all Americans. Generic drugs are just as safe and effective as brand-name drugs in the United States, and generally cost about 70 percent less.
Low-income seniors can get these savings and an additional $600 a year - $1,200 through the end of next year. The $600 credit is available only through cards with the Medicare-approved seal. There is no enrollment fee on any card for people who qualify for the $600 low-income credit. This subsidy, combined with discounts available through the card, can save eligible seniors 32 to 86 percent off what they are now paying for their medicines.
Beneficiaries who qualify for the low-income credit will receive the entire $600 amount no matter when they sign up in 2004, and a pro-rated amount depending on when they sign up in 2005. Any of the $600 credit not used in 2004 will be carried over in their account for use in 2005.
Beneficiaries who exhaust the $600 subsidy may get additional savings. A growing list of drug manufacturers has agreed to make many of their products available at a nominal price to beneficiaries who have used up their $600 subsidy on prescription medicines. These seniors will benefit in three important ways from the cards: 1) lower prices on their medicines; 2) a $600 subsidy to help them buy these medicines at the discounted prices; and 3) availability of drugs at a nominal price through manufacturers once they've spent the subsidy.
The new drug card will not affect benefits under other Federal programs. The Medicare law stipulates that the discounts and subsidies available through the cards will not result in a reduction or loss of benefits under any other federal program, including the food stamp program.
Information to Help Seniors Choose a Card
Seniors can learn how to sign up for the card and find the best card for them by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, by visiting
www.medicare.gov, or by calling their state’s Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
Medicare customer service representatives will review the caller's drug needs and help them select the card that best meets their needs. The average wait time to speak with a customer service representative is less than 2 minutes, and the average call time with a customer representative is about 9 minutes. So it takes on average less than 12 minutes to sign up for savings.
Beneficiaries can make it even easier to choose a card by having the following information ready when contacting 1-800-MEDICARE: zip code; list of prescription drugs, including dosage; income to determine if they are eligible for the $600 credit; and any special preferences, such as a particular pharmacy they like.
The web site,
www.medicare.gov has price comparison tools that seniors can use themselves. For the first time, seniors can get information on actual drug prices so they can comparison shop.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made an additional $4.6 million available to organize and fund community-based organizations to help low-income beneficiaries enroll in the program. This is in addition to the $21 million previously made available to the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), and HHS’s enrollment efforts with the Access to Benefits Coalition, a new group of 75 organizations.
Just the Beginning of Savings for Seniors
The Medicare-approved drug discount cards are just the beginning of savings for seniors. In 2006, seniors without coverage will be able to join a Medicare-approved plan that will cut their yearly drug costs roughly in half, in exchange for a monthly premium of about $35. In many cases, the savings will be even greater. For example:
Seniors with no drug coverage and monthly drug costs of $200 will save more than $1,700 on drug costs each year.
Seniors with no drug coverage and monthly drug costs of $800 will save nearly $5,900 on drug costs each year.
Seniors will be protected against high out-of-pocket costs with Medicare covering 95% of drug costs over $3,600 per year.
The new law will help make employer-subsidized retirement benefits more secure by providing Federal subsidies to employers that continue to provide this coverage.
Low-income seniors will receive additional help paying for their medicines.
There will be no additional premium, no deductible and low co-payments ($2 for generic or $5 for brand-name drugs) for seniors with limited savings and incomes at or below 135% of poverty (individuals with yearly incomes under $12,568 and senior couples under $16,862).
There will be a reduced premium, a $50 deductible, and a 15% co-insurance (85% of their drug costs will be covered) for seniors with limited savings and incomes between 135% and 150% of the Federal poverty level (individuals with yearly incomes under $13,965 and senior couples under $18,735).
Under a modernized Medicare, private health plans will compete for seniors' business by providing better coverage at affordable prices-helping to control the costs of Medicare by using market-place competition, not government price-setting. And seniors will be able to choose the health care plan that best fits their needs-instead of having that choice made by the government.
"As for Bush's education plans, they seem to be entirely based on raising standardized test scores. This narrow-minded focus will do nothing to help education, and is only drawing money away from schools to do what schools are meant to do: provide a well-rounded, complete education. Even as his plans currently exist, there's _still_ not enough money to fund them."
what do you mean there isnt enough funding? its nearly doubled over thast decades! i have a topic under school and education about this its called "a nation at risk".
"Show me one teacher who believes No Child Left Behind is effective, and I'll show you 5 who believe it is a dangerous waste of money. The same goes for Reading First. It seems that Bush just doesn't really understand what education is all about...I do wonder why."
i can tell you thats bcause education agencies such as the NEA have a dangerous left wing agenda again take this debate to my topic in schoo and education.
"That's the tricky thing about Bush. Much of what he says sounds good until you research it.[/QUOTE]"
well im glad that weve kept this debate in decent terms. your a good person to debate with.
Honorable Senate Majority Leader (R-WI) "Liberals have gone stark-raving mad, yes,"- Euterpe
Topics 
