Say Hello to GOP Death Panels!

Gotta hand it to the Grand Ole Party which, 2 years ago, embarked on perhaps the most dastardly distortion of facts ever witnessed during the Health Care Reform debate. They painted themselves as saviors of a wildly popular government program they've despised since its inception, and convinced enough voters they would be subject to bureaucrats on matters of life and death, to regain control of the House of Representatives.

Back in the cockpit, what do they do? 235 GOP members voted today to destroy the program they pledged to save. If the budget they voted on were to become law, beginning in 2022, Senior Citizens would no longer enroll in Medicare. They would be given a Voucher to purchase private insurance. And good luck with that!

There are presently 53 million uninsured persons under the age of 65 in the country now. Ask any one of them, all younger and most, far healthier than Seniors, why they are uninsured and you'll get the same answer....the cost is unaffordable.

Medicare came to be because health care was unaffordable for most retired individuals. After working for a lifetime, providing health care with cost controls was something a good and decent nation would provide. Medicare is popular precisely because it gives older Americans peace of mind when they need it most.

Medicare has also translated into advanced life expectancy which, in no small measure, has driven up costs. So longevity, coupled with medical advancements, more and better drug therapies and millions of retiring baby boomers are all factors contributing to the current funding crisis. No one disputes reform is essential but it's also entirely doable without dismantling this all important lifenet.

Without going into specifics, all of the following should be a part of reform: Immediately swap fee for service to fee for outcomes, evidenced based treatment, coordinated care, non-payment for duplicitous care, re-importation of drugs, higher co-pays for branded drugs, non-approval for procedures/treatments which do not extend life, or don't do so beyond a period of weeks or a few months, automatic opt out for those with $10 Million in net worth or greater and raise the age qualification to 67 with early buy in at 65 for an additional monthly fee.

Make no mistake, insurance companies are in business for one reason: TO MAKE MONEY! Coverage for seniors without government backing would decimate their bottom lines and the only way to recoup the staggering losses would be to spread the costs to the entire population. If you think health insurance is unaffordable now, toss in 40 million Senior citizens and we'll all be walking around with signed death warrants, courtesy of this GOP budget bill.

Medicare is a terrific program, so let's get started with real and responsible reform and a quick death to this shrill, irresponsible bill.