Pelosi admits Medicare/caid has a lot of waste, corruption and redundancy

[dead0man]

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This works out to $50billion a year out of the programs.  Why wasn't she working to cut this waste the last few years she's been in charge?  Why does she think the next govt run medical program will be less wasteful?  And if the new program doesn't go through, will she still work to cut the garbage out of medicare/caid?

[Meeker]

Well, yeah. Your point?

I don't think anyone ever denied that there's waste or abuse or redundancy or what have you in Medicare or Medicaid. The only claim I've heard is that Medicare/Medicaid and the VA are far, far less wasteful, far less open to abuse and far less redundant than a private insurance company. Not to mention all the overhead costs that those programs don't need to spend money on that private companies do.

[Stampever]

The government is still paying for those overhead expenses; it just isn't as transparent to the patient as it would be under a private plan.  Buildings cost money.  Electricity costs money.  Salaries cost money.  Benefits cost money.  It doesn't change just because you're a government agency.  The only difference is that the government absorbs their expenses differently.

[opebo]

Haha, 50 billion?  Who cares?

[Meeker]

The government is still paying for those overhead expenses; it just isn't as transparent to the patient as it would be under a private plan.  Buildings cost money.  Electricity costs money.  Salaries cost money.  Benefits cost money.  It doesn't change just because you're a government agency.  The only difference is that the government absorbs their expenses differently.

Sure those things need to be covered by both, but there are a lot of other things that private companies do have to pay for that government agencies do not (such as extensive advertising and larger salaries). There's a reason Medicare's administrative costs are only about 2% of its budget whereas that number for the average private insurance company is around 40%.

[Sewer]

it just isn't as transparent to the patient as it would be under a private plan.

private plans are transparent?


lol.

[Stampever]

it just isn't as transparent to the patient as it would be under a private plan.

private plans are transparent?


lol.

Are you the forum clown, or are you just an idiot?  Do you obviously not know what is released by publicly traded companies in their annual reports and other financial filings?  The data relating to operational and overhead expenses are displayed in black and white.  Now please, if you have nothing of substance to add, do us all a favor and log off.

[MODU]

The question is ... why hasn't she done anything about it over the past 3 years?  If it is so "easy" to recover $500B in Medicare waste, why is she allowing the waste to continue? 

Just another sign that Congress doesn't really care about actually "fixing" the problems they create, rather just let them continue so they have something to campaign on.

[Alexander Hamilton]

Haha, 50 billion?  Who cares?

Me. I'll take the 50 billion for myself rather than have the government waste it or use it for fraud/corruption.

[Brittain33]

I give her credit for going beyond the old standbys of "waste, fraud, and abuse" to add three additionally meaningless words. Brava.

[Torie]

I give her credit for going beyond the old standbys of "waste, fraud, and abuse" to add three additionally meaningless words. Brava.

At least the Dems are becoming creative.  They used to tend to deny such waste existed in their defense of government spending, but now it is in their interest to not only claim it exists, but exaggerate the amount of same. Why? Because that way they can find "savings" to finance more spending!  It's brilliant baby, absolutely brilliant, and I have to salute them for their self interested 180 degree reversal of direction. 

[opebo]

Haha, 50 billion?  Who cares?

Me. I'll take the 50 billion for myself rather than have the government waste it or use it for fraud/corruption.

The point is that attacking life-saving and absolutely necessary government programs for this kind of very minor imperfection is just silly.  Its like saying, oh my god, someone stole the office stapler!  Close down the FBI!

[Alexander Hamilton]

Haha, 50 billion?  Who cares?

Me. I'll take the 50 billion for myself rather than have the government waste it or use it for fraud/corruption.

The point is that attacking life-saving and absolutely necessary government programs for this kind of very minor imperfection is just silly.  Its like saying, oh my god, someone stole the office stapler!  Close down the FBI!

That doesn't make stealing staples acceptable.