With Medicare Gag Order-Democrats Desperate to Hide Truth

[carpro]

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/54687

Medicare ‘Gag Order’ A Sign That Obama, Democrats Are Desperate on Health Care, Republican Leader Says
Tuesday, September 29, 2009

(CNSNews.com) – Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said the recent gag order imposed by Medicare on insurance companies participating in its Advantage program shows that President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats are desperate to pass their health care overhaul legislation.

McConnell, speaking on a conference call Monday, said the Medicare gag order showed that Democrats are "willing to employ any tactic to try to quiet the voices of dissent." McConnell said their "desperation" is illustrated by the way Democrats are trying to "shut up critics of the bill.”

McConnell was referring to a Sept. 21 statement released by the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – a division of the Department of Health and Human Services – directing companies that participate in the Medicare Advantage program to cease all communication with beneficiaries dealing with the administration’s planned cuts to the Advantage program.

SNIP

McConnell called the government’s actions a “gag order” and a “violation of the First Amendment,” saying it was obvious that the administration did not want seniors to know the truth about health care reform.

 

[alatide]

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/54687

Medicare ‘Gag Order’ A Sign That Obama, Democrats Are Desperate on Health Care, Republican Leader Says
Tuesday, September 29, 2009

(CNSNews.com) – Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said the recent gag order imposed by Medicare on insurance companies participating in its Advantage program shows that President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats are desperate to pass their health care overhaul legislation.

McConnell, speaking on a conference call Monday, said the Medicare gag order showed that Democrats are "willing to employ any tactic to try to quiet the voices of dissent." McConnell said their "desperation" is illustrated by the way Democrats are trying to "shut up critics of the bill.”

McConnell was referring to a Sept. 21 statement released by the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – a division of the Department of Health and Human Services – directing companies that participate in the Medicare Advantage program to cease all communication with beneficiaries dealing with the administration’s planned cuts to the Advantage program.

SNIP

McConnell called the government’s actions a “gag order” and a “violation of the First Amendment,” saying it was obvious that the administration did not want seniors to know the truth about health care reform.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32991346/ns/health-health_care/

Let's look at the truth.

Medicare Advantage plans provide benefits, such as vision and dental care, which go beyond those covered under the traditional fee-for-service Medicare program. Private insurers contract with the federal government to provide the plans, and they offer the extras as perks to entice patients to choose their programs instead of regular Medicare.

But the non-partisan Medicare Payment Advisory Commission told Congress that such services cost too much, with Medicare Advantage payments per enrollee 14 percent higher than traditional Medicare.

The commission said that this year the government will pay about $12 billion more for enrollees of Medicare Advantage plans than it would if they were in fee-for-service Medicare.

Who's who in the health care debate
A look at the key players shaping the national debate over health care — including the legislators and policymakers at the center of it all.

“These excessive payments encourage inefficient plans to enter the program, further raising the costs to Medicare,” the commission reported last June.

 

[targus]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32991346/ns/health-health_care/

Let's look at the truth.

Medicare Advantage plans provide benefits, such as vision and dental care, which go beyond those covered under the traditional fee-for-service Medicare program. Private insurers contract with the federal government to provide the plans, and they offer the extras as perks to entice patients to choose their programs instead of regular Medicare.

But the non-partisan Medicare Payment Advisory Commission told Congress that such services cost too much, with Medicare Advantage payments per enrollee 14 percent higher than traditional Medicare.

The commission said that this year the government will pay about $12 billion more for enrollees of Medicare Advantage plans than it would if they were in fee-for-service Medicare.

Who's who in the health care debate
A look at the key players shaping the national debate over health care — including the legislators and policymakers at the center of it all.

“These excessive payments encourage inefficient plans to enter the program, further raising the costs to Medicare,” the commission reported last June.

So the fact that an optional plan costs more than the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission thinks that it delivers in value is justification for the government to deny free speech?

 

[alatide]

So the fact that an optional plan costs more than the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission thinks that it delivers in value is justification for the government to deny free speech?

I'm simply revealing information about the plan. I don't know what Humana was telling its customers. If they were telling the truth they should be allowed to do so. If they were telling lies because this affects their bottom line then those lies should be stopped.

 

[targus]

I'm simply revealing information about the plan.

Rather than straying off topic in an attempt to justify government censureship why not find out the facts of the issue?

I don't know what Humana was telling its customers. If they were telling the truth they should be allowed to do so. If they were telling lies because this affects their bottom line then those lies should be stopped.

Your questions are answered in the OP.

If you had bothered to read the article before jumping in you would have better knowledge of what you are talking about.

"That order was instigated by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) after he discovered that insurance giant Humana, which is headquartered in McConnell’s home state of Kentucky, had sent its Medicare Advantage customers a mailing that warned them of the possible benefit reductions that might occur if the program’s funding were cut.

Baucus called the Humana mailing “false,” while the CMS said it was “misleading” and “confusing.” However, the director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Douglas Elmendorf, testified before Baucus’ Senate Finance Committee that, in fact, the administration’s planned cuts to Medicare Advantage would result in seniors losing “more than half” of the added benefits they receive from the privately run program. "

Humana was telling their customers the truth.

Of course the Democrats can have none of that.

 

[alatide]

Rather than straying off topic in an attempt to justify government censureship why not find out the facts of the issue?



Your questions are answered in the OP.

If you had bothered to read the article before jumping in you would have better knowledge of what you are talking about.

"That order was instigated by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) after he discovered that insurance giant Humana, which is headquartered in McConnell’s home state of Kentucky, had sent its Medicare Advantage customers a mailing that warned them of the possible benefit reductions that might occur if the program’s funding were cut.

Baucus called the Humana mailing “false,” while the CMS said it was “misleading” and “confusing.” However, the director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Douglas Elmendorf, testified before Baucus’ Senate Finance Committee that, in fact, the administration’s planned cuts to Medicare Advantage would result in seniors losing “more than half” of the added benefits they receive from the privately run program. "

Humana was telling their customers the truth.

Of course the Democrats can have none of that.

You say find out the facts but somehow the facts don't include information about the Medicare option whose funding might be cut? That's the topic of the OP. Oh, I suppose anything other than bashing the current administration is off topic. Sorry Charlie. You don't run this board although it is significantly dominated by people who (don't) think like you.

 

[targus]

You say find out the facts but somehow the facts don't include information about the Medicare option whose funding might be cut? That's the topic of the OP.

Actually, that is NOT the topic.

The topic is the gag order put on insurance companies by the government in order to shut down dissent.

Reading is fundamental. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[just-want-peace]

targus sez:

Reading is fundamental. :smilewinkgrin:

Don't confuse the issue with facts; the left can't handle it!!:tongue3::laugh:

 

[alatide]

Actually, that is NOT the topic.

The topic is the gag order put on insurance companies by the government in order to shut down dissent.

Reading is fundamental. :smilewinkgrin:

The gag order was to stop them from disseminating information about what?

 

[carpro]

The gag order was to stop them from disseminating information about what?

Do you ever actually read anything at all? :BangHead: