Budget Hits Medicare

摘要

The administration's FY 2009 budget would deal heavy blows to Medicare and many older beneficiaries. Physician reimbursement cuts of almost 10 percent originally planned for January 2008 will go into effect in July 2008 unless Congress acts to reverse them, and the budget envisions further cuts in January 2009. Such cuts also would affect TRICARE, because TRICARE doctor payments are tied to Medicare's. These cuts would cause more doctors to refuse to see TRICARE and Medicare patients. The new budget also would repeal annual inflation adjustments to the income levels used to means-test Part B premiums. If enacted, that would push more and more people each year into paying significantly higher Part B premiums. This year, the