Democrats Willing to Consider Medicare Cuts, Van Hollen Says

[klook]

30. I'm no expert, but

Here's what I found on the Medicare.gov site:

In general, Part A covers:

• Hospital care


• Skilled nursing facility care


• Nursing home care (as long as custodial care isn't the only care you need)


• Hospice


• Home health services

Part B covers things like:

• Clinical research


• Ambulance services


• Durable medical equipment


• Mental health
  - Inpatient
  - Outpatient
  - Partial hospitalization


• Getting a second opinion before surgery


• Limited outpatient prescription drugs

So, to me (Noted Regular Schmoe and Non-Expert), it seems that what Van Hollen alluded to would be having every Medicare recipient qualified for (and paying premiums for) all these services. IF there are efficiencies or economies of scale that can be achieved this way -- thus reducing costs without reducing benefits -- that approach may be worth considering. I think that's rational.

Van Hollen said "I would not say ‘no’ off the cuff to that kind of idea." I interpret this as "Let's take a look at it, but I'm not making any promises." I do not see it as "cutting Medicare" benefits to recipients.

If we find that any Democrat truly is talking about cutting benefits, then it's time to scream bloody murder. Despite the misleading and alarmist headline on the article quoted in this OP, it doesn't seem that Van Hollen is going down that road.