Dems Won't Take Part in Medicaid Panel

[UCSBLiberalCat53]

By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 18 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Democratic lawmakers said Thursday that they would not participate on a commission that will recommend how to trim Medicaid by $10 billion over the next five years.


Michael Leavitt, the secretary of the
Health and Human Services Department, announced last week the framework of the commission, which was mandated by Congress. He will appoint up to 15 voting members and 15 non-voting members.

Republican lawmakers were invited to designate four lawmakers to serve as non-voting members, and Democrats were invited to do the same.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050526/ap_on_go_co/medicaid_democrats
Behold, the party of Jesus strikes again.

[merwin]

1. I applaud the dems for doing that.

[neuvocat]

4. I might be missing something here.

Isn't that bad not to participate and not have any say so or power checks involved? Thanks.

[oneighty]

5. Yes

Non-voting members are useless, wind up being scapegoats.

Some liberals for the conservatives to blame-nothing more.

180

[neuvocat]

8. Ah.

Got it.

[merwin]

11. Ah, but this way they can hold it against the Republicans when they

vote to reduce medical care for the needy. They can't say we had anything to do with it if we weren't there!

[oneighty]

12. True.That is the other side

of the coin. But consider when they cut Medicaid (which they will) it will be in the Republican's lap because the Democrats had no vote in the first place. Democrats have no vote.

IMHO

180

[merwin]

13. now THAT would be a good issue to filibuster. The republicans can't

make a huge deal out of it because it would bring into the spotlight that they're trying to slice and dice medicaid

[oneighty]

14. This is just a planning board

Voting I think is suggested for Sept. State governments are going to be watching this close.

Gotta go for the night. Nice talking!

180

[jwirr]

17. IMO they do not have to attend nor do they have

to filibuster. Simply keep the American public informed and we will do the rest. This is an issue where people like me are good at. My daughter lives or dies depending on the cuts they make and I am not alone. We the people (poor, sick and elderly, especially elderly in nursing homes) who are dependent on Medicaid have relatives and friend who care about these issues. Then there are also all the business people who see their income fall when the cuts come through.

All the legislators have to do is keep us informed.

[MasonJar]

2. The difference between the Dems and the Pugs is becoming

quite clear. Let's take up the call and let everyone we see know. It is after all our patriotic duty; it is our country at least for now....I think.

[jaysunb]

3. This is good

now maybe they also abstain from presenting any plan for social security.

[Dover]

6. Pelosi & Reid Decline to Select Non-Voting Members for Admin's Medicaid

Pelosi and Reid Decline to Select Non-Voting Members for the Administration's Medicaid Commission.

WASHINGTON, May 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid released the followin statement today on their decision to decline to appoint non-voting members to the Bush Administration's Medicaid Commission. The Republicans budget, which passed in April, included $10 billion in cuts to Medicaid. The Commission will recommend how to make those cuts:

"After much deliberation, we have decided not to appoint Members of the Senate and House as non-voting members of the Administration's Medicaid Commission. An invitation to Democrats to select four Members of the Senate and House to advisory roles without a vote is wholly inadequate to lend any Commission even the air of bipartisanship.

"In contrast, the Administration will select all 15 voting members and 15 'non-voting advisor members,' with Senate and House Republicans invited to select four non-voting advisory Members of the House and Senate. Not only is it inadequate to offer four selections out of 38 positions to Democrats, but it is inappropriate to offer any Member of the House or Senate, whether Democrat or Republican, a non-voting role on such a Commission.

"Unfortunately, the partisan nature of the Commission and the lack of voting rights are not our only reasons for refusing to appoint Members.

"We fundamentally disagree with the premise that this Commission should make recommendations on how to cut Medicaid outlays by $10 billion by September 1. While we need to reduce the deficit, we should not make cuts affecting the most vulnerable Americans in order to finance more tax cuts for the wealthy. If there are budget cuts to be made, we should also look to other initiatives within the jurisdictions of the relevant Committees. ..cont'd

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=48017

[Dover]

7. Unprecedented Florida Medicaid Changes Risks Patients' Health, APA Says

Unprecedented Florida Medicaid Changes Risks Patients' Health, APA Says



WASHINGTON, May 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- In response to Florida's enactment of harmful new Medicaid legislation, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) released the following statement today on behalf of John Bailey, D.O., president of the Florida Psychiatric Society, and APA Medical Director James H. Scully Jr., M.D.:

Today the American Psychiatric Association warned that Florida's enactment of new Medicaid legislation puts people with mental illness at serious risk. The unprecedented and most harmful aspect of the law is a requirement that -- each year -- a patient must first fail on the cheapest mandated medications before the patient is given access to the medication his or her physician believes is optimal, even where the patient has been successfully treated with the physician-chosen medication.

This major health policy setback will help ensure that patients are less likely to get relief from their illness, less likely to experience full remission, and more at risk for adverse outcomes and devastating side effects. Worse, Florida - a bellwether state on Medicaid policy - could ignite a nationwide trend toward public health policies that are regressive and clearly not formulated with patient welfare in mind. Florida's cost-savings expectations will prove illusory at the expense of a vulnerable population.

The American Psychiatric Association believes that the implementation of the new policy will create a statewide mental health emergency....cont'd

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=48013

[thecrow]

10. That's depressing! n/t

[VegasWolf]

9. Easy solution, just reserve Medicaid payments for only those saved by

Jesus.

[Pithy Cherub]

15. Interesting calendar alignment.

From September forward they have to find congress critters who will put their names on this before 2006 and commit to it! That is just plain dumb if you are running for pres as a republican in 2008.

In order to have a signature issue, it has to be a product of bi-partisanship. This whole fiasco of the first 6 months of the bush 'n berries legislative agenda has gone down the drain because everything is now a fight to the bitter end - there is no more political low-hanging fruit (except commander cuckoo bananas). There will be intentions, announcements, and confirmations for the next political season. People are going to have to state a political opinion and all of this should have been now - not later. Who wants to go it alone on medicaid without bi-partisan air cover - yes, I know, dumb and dumber republicans.

And since when does a commission finish on time anyway? :shrug:

[DeepModem Mom]

16. kick