The Republican tax bill will end cancer treatment for Medicare patients

[babylonsister]

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/29/1719511/-The-Republican-tax-bill-will-end-cancer-treatment-for-Medicare-patients?detail=facebook


The Republican tax bill will end cancer treatment for Medicare patients
By Joan McCarter
Wednesday Nov 29, 2017 · 12:43 PM EST


If the Republican tax cuts bill becomes law, it will immediately trigger a $25 billion cut in Medicare. That's because of mandatory spending cuts that will kick in as a result the tax bill’s $1.5 billion increase to the deficit. The last time this happened, that Medicare cuts were forced, wasn't that long ago. It was 2013. And as Sarah Kliff reminds us, what happened then was that cancer patients were turned away from clinics, because the clinics couldn't afford the expensive chemotherapy drugs they were administering without Medicare offsetting the costs.

In 2013, it was temporary, part of the government shutdown. This time around it would be a permanent cut. In light of that, Kliff followed up with an oncologist who sees that threat again as a result of this bill.

I talked to one Long Island oncologist who said he and his staff held an emergency meeting earlier this week and decided they would no longer see one-third of their 16,000 Medicare patients. "It's a choice between seeing these patients and staying in business," Jeff Vacirca, chief executive of North Shore Hematology Oncology Associates, told me.

The Senate could pass separate legislation to skirt these rules that would require the automatic budget cuts—but as my colleague Tara Golshan notes, the politics of Republicans voting to undermine a deficit-management law won't be easy.

And if they don't, the fears of cancer clinics turning patients away could become real again. The tax bill could, for some seniors, become a bill that sharply limits their access to health care.

Cancer patients and survivors, people with other serious, life-threatening conditions are facing the very real possibility that they will lose their insurance because of the repeal of the mandate in Obamacare. Patients who thought they'd be okay because they're covered by Medicare are now losing that assurance.

Republicans are taking away treatment from cancer patients. They're doing it to give tax cuts to corporations and the rich. And they're proud of themselves.

Senators Collins, Corker, Flake, Johnson, McCain, Murkowksi? All we need are THREE of these Republicans to stop the worst GOP Tax Scam, and the Senate is voting any day. Call your senators at [phone] and tell them to vote "no."

[niyad]

1. the reichwing death panels are alive and well in congress.

[dalton99a]

2. Spread this far and wide

[Dawson Leery]

3. Republicans are worse than ISIS, much worse.

[dalton99a]

4. Absolutely.

Republicans strive every day to kill Americans by the millions

[SCantiGOP]

8. back to back

Two of the most ridiculous posts in the history of DU.

[dalton99a]

12. CBO projects more than 13 million Americans would lose their insurance

You ok with that?

[atreides1]

28. What would be effective

Is if the CBO could project how many Americans will die, due to the loss of their insurance!

[SCantiGOP]

29. Oh, you're right

That is much worse than ISIS. I'm sure they have a great health care system in the areas they control.

for clarity, I was responding to Post #3)

[mr_lebowski]

50. If ur talking about 'number of Americans harmed by their existence/policies', its damn fucking right

In my book.

Your book ... may be different.

Reasonable people may disagree on particular applications of a very vague word like 'worse', but I fully believe it can be argued that this GOP tax proposal is far worse than anything ISIS could ever do to our population, in any practical sense.

[SCantiGOP]

59. The comment was:

“The Republicans are worse than ISIS.”
If you want to endorse that then just jump into the lunatic fringe.

[LanternWaste]

66. I especially liked how you provided objective evidence to support your sentiment.

I especially liked how you provided objective evidence to support your sentiment, rather than making a simplistic and petulant allegation designed merely trivialize anyone who disagrees with your position.

It indicates a most rational mind, free of bias and youthful passions...

[SCantiGOP]

68. Wow

Just Wow.
I really need to provide factual evidence that the US Republican Party is not worse than ISIS? ISIS?!
Don't think I care to discuss this with you any more.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

5. Will the M$M even report this, but Matt Lauer, now that is important bullshit!!!

When is enough, enough, does the American public even pay attention (or care) anymore, how can this insanity be allowed to become law??? Piss on the deviate millionaires and their sexual proclivities, report what is vitally important to the rest of us.

[Wellstone ruled]

11. Wellllll,

Priorities my friend. This effects Corporate Bonus's. Cheaper Insurance=Bigger Bonus's. Nothing here to see,move along. Yup,that's the ticket.

[sprinkleeninow]

34. 'Deviate'. Another most excellent modifier. eom

[Willie Pep]

52. I was thinking about this today.

You really don't hear much about stuff like Medicare policy. You really have to actively search for it and most people don't do that. The MSM has become more and more like the tabloids. Medicare is not sexy or sensational enough I guess to get views or clicks.

I think this is part of why so many people vote GOP. I have elderly relatives who vote GOP but who will be hurt by the Republican bill. None of the news they watch seems to cover it. Granted they watch a lot of Fox News which cannot be trusted at all but they also watch the major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) which should be held to a higher standard.

[flamingdem]

6. Madness and cruelty from the GOP

[bluestarone]

7. good article

they have no conscience

[IronLionZion]

9. Republicans want to kill their own voters for tax cuts

it's not like immigrants are sneaking in here and stealing cancer treatments. I'm deeply disappointed that more Republicans haven't come out against this insane tax bill.

[Dave Starsky]

27. They don't need their voters anymore.

Gerrymandering and "black box" voting machines have it all taken care of.

[maveric]

10. I'll say it again, They're thinning out the Herd.

They're not even trying to hide it. Scares me.

[bearssoapbox]

13. Trump/GOP Deathcare

[Cryptoad]

14. We need to let the Gubermint shut Down untill,

the GOP kills this tax bill!

[notdarkyet]

15. Shut it down. Shut it down. Shut it down.

[IronLionZion]

32. Republicans are fine with that

they want to shut down the government.

[Cryptoad]

42. I dont think so,,, not anymore

maybe the GOP of Yesteryear but The Party of Trump is too in love with the money it is screwing the gubermint out of,,,,,,, hell it cant be any worst than what it be like if this tax bill is signed into law! Shut it Down!

[Angry Dragon]

16. GOP is in favor of DEATH PANELS just as Palin said they would

[titaniumsalute]

17. Pretty sure the 65+ year old Republicans get cancer

This doesn't really even make sense. They are trying to kill their own constituents.

[workinclasszero]

19. The bastards have already admitted in public that constituents

don't even enter into the equation.

The republican party exists to enrich its multi billionaire owners/donors ONLY!

[WinkyDink]

24. They now don't care. They figure this could be their Last-Grab Gotterdammerung before....Mueller.

[sprinkleeninow]

35. I am anticipating and expecting His Most Excellent Mueller SOON.

Please let it be done unto us!!
The gift we are all deserving of.

[workinclasszero]

61. Yes they must rape the public while they have the power

2018 is coming up fast and the public hates this Attack America tax cut for billionaires, gotta fuck over the sick kids and old folks quick!

[workinclasszero]

18. The Kochs, the Mercers and Wall St don't give a shit about us useless eaters!

Die MF's while we steal your last penny!

When the FUCK are Americans gonna get WOKE!?!?

Maybe when Grammy and Grandpa are writhing in bone cancer pain on the living room floor dying by inches?

[WinkyDink]

26. They want us DEAD and GONE. No pensions. No interest on savings. No jobs. And no

health insurance or Medicare.

[workinclasszero]

62. Bingo

And leave the economy a smoking ruin like Bush did.

Its all on the way damn it. I'm sure Jill Stein and Susan Sarandon will have a good laugh over our suffering though.

[MarcA]

44. The Kochs, Mercers et al and their sycophantic followers are Truly useless eaters and breathers.

[workinclasszero]

63. They are a plague on humanity for sure.

Why billionaires demand welfare from this country even if it kills poor kids and old folks I'll never understand.

[Nanjeanne]

20. This really is frightening and Im surprised Dems arent pushing this every chance they get.

Most people have family members or are themselves cancer patients using Medicare and know how good and valuable the program is. My husband has multiple myeloma, an incurable but somewhat manageable blood cancer and he is pretty much on continuous treatment for the rest of his life. Medicare has been a wonderful program for us in terms of his care. Pills he takes at home u see the disastrous Part D mess is another story. But his stem cell transplant, his in hospital treatment, his doctor appointments. Nothing has been a problem and we are so grateful for this. And I am sure we are not alone in this.

[FakeNoose]

65. They're hoping we won't find out until it's too late

[Vinca]

21. That's scary. As a person on Medicare without vast, personal wealth I'd be toast.

[LittleGirl]

22. Then we better be busting down the doors

at the cancer drug companies. They are making hand over fist profit on their expensive drugs and people are dying. Maybe they should step up and offer these drugs to these patients themselves. Ya I know, I'm just a dreamer.

[WinkyDink]

23. Just called PA. Sen. Toomey's office (take your pick: tumor/tomb-y). Woman who anwered listened

very patiently as I quoted some of the OP's article. I also mentioned to her that she might want to use Medicare herself some day, or to think of her elderly relatives and friends.

Cancer can happen to all. But the very wealthy need not worry about receiving and affording treatment.

[steve2470]

25. retweeting this, thanks, and rec! nt

[SunSeeker]

30. K & R for exposure.

[volstork]

31. Kick

This needs to be broadcast far and wide!

[sprinkleeninow]

33. Bookmarking to call later.

Yesterday I launched a missive to Senator Charles Shumer and suggested he have a 'talk' with Senators Manchin and Heitkamp who 'may' be considering to vote FOR the egregious tax reform bill that the republucres are just itching to get passed.

What the WHATTT??

[House of Roberts]

36. I wonder how much the supplemental insurance

will go up to cover this?

[roamer65]

45. They will cap coverage or not cover.

[bronxiteforever]

37. The emoji for rage is not strong enough

Evil evil evil men are ruining our land and our people

[iluvtennis]

38. Pure EVIL that is what the White House Occupant and the GOP are nowadays. nt

[KY_EnviroGuy]

39. Insurance companies will love this crap.

Like us, many on Medicare may panic an rush out and buy more supplemental or on-the-side policies.

More money in the campaign coffers of the Repugs. Welcome to our race to the bottom.

[steve2470]

40. if I had extra money, I would pay for this to be advertised on Twitter....

This is, as Joe Biden would say, a really BIG F******G DEAL! Somehow I think even some of the crazies in Trump's base would call Congress on this one.

[burrowowl]

41. Rethugs are EVIL!

[steve2470]

43. kick nt

[BlancheSplanchnik]

46. jeeeezusssssss

You know how repukes always accuse democrats of the evil they do themselves?


Death Panels.

[Hekate]

47. MONSTERS

[smirkymonkey]

48. I feel like vomiting. They are going to get away with this and they will STILL probably

not lose any voters. At least not any living voters.

[applegrove]

49. Fewer Democratic voters alive to vote Dem into their old age.

[democratisphere]

51. redumbliCONs are determined to hasten extinction of humans in America.

[WinkyDink]

53. This is why I disagree with anyone who says we need the two Parties.

We don't need any of the murderous psychopaths called "Republicans."

[rtracey]

54. sucks

this sucks, but I do hope people think about it when their loved one is not receiving the care they need. Next time vote your head not your fox news. Elections have consequences and we are feeling and dying with it now.....

[spanone]

55. K&R...

[58Sunliner]

56. Corker still has his phone off the hook?

I also could not reach anyone at any offices either. Murkowski has an answering machine on in DC. I've been using twitter.

[heaven05]

57. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

cancer patients will be turned away? Told to go home and die? WTF! These murderers will kill americans and they don't care. American media, 66 million hateful, vicious, evil people have allowed this to happen...I hope A LOT of trump ass lickers are in the group destined to be murdered by this current administration and congress...fall of the ameriKKKan empire is well underway because of internal rot.

[colsohlibgal]

58. Evil On A Grand Scale

Charlie Pierce calls Paul Ryan the “Zombie Eyed Granny Starver” and that could apply to a vast percentage of Republicans right now. They are so anxious to transfer even more wealth upward at the expense of everyone else.

They are beyond eager to undo the New Deal, so they put up with a deranged, mentally ill rich clown in the White House. But why not, they would prefer a child predator as Senator in Alabama over a Democrat.

It is all perverse and sick, let’s hope we survive this period

[Mountain Mule]

60. Tax cuts equal human lives cuts

The repugs are simply unconscionable. I despise them!

[58Sunliner]

64. Protest Today in DC!!

Link to tweet

[L. Coyote]

67. Trump's BILLION $$$$ BONUS (tax break) is the biggest scam of his life.

More like a gargantuan heist of the US Treasury for himself and all his billionaire pals.