June O’Neill: “Real health reform beckons new start”
June O’Neill: “To ease concern over costs of health care reform, politicians point to Congressional Budget Office reports that label the legislation as deficit-reducing. BUT THE COST ESTIMATES PRESENT BY CBO CAMOUFLAGE THE TRUE COSTS. WHILE REVENUES IN THE SENAT BILL BEGIN IN THE FIRST YEAR, COSTS DO NOT KICK IN UNTIL 2014, RESULTING IN 10 YEARS OF REVENUES AND 6 YEARS OF COSTS.”
“Once you look past this accounting gimmick, the gross cost of the Seante bill over a full 10 years of iimplementation is in excess of $2 trillion, more than twice the current estimate. And even those costs are low-balled.”
“And while Congress has specified deep cuts in Medicare reimbursements for medical service providers, if iimplemented as intended the cuts in physician payments will induce more doctors to treat fewer Medicare patients. Conversely, if the cuts in doctor pay are rescinded, the new law will provide another huge addition to the national debt.”
“And many of the proposed new tax increases may [be impossible politica