The Washington Independent

Posts Tagged medicare

New poll shows a thoroughly mixed-up America

By | 04.20.11 | 2:40 pm

A new poll from the Washington Post and ABC News reveals mixed messages from the American public over the country’s budget crisis.

With regard to fixing the federal deficit, trust in congressional Republicans edged out trust in President Obama by a slight margin, but on the issues, More…

Democrat campaign ads target Cravaack, Bachmann over Medicare vote

By | 04.20.11 | 10:12 am | More from The Minnesota Independent

Minnesota U.S. Reps. Michele Bachmann and Chip Cravaack are the targets of radio ads by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee over their votes to “end Medicare.” The ad buy is extremely small and is part of the DCCC’s “Drive to 25? campaign, an effort launched in January with the aim More…

Top Obama advisor Plouffe denounces Ryan budget plan

By | 04.11.11 | 12:52 pm

The Obama administration has spoken out against the 2012 budget plan Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) presented last week. Over the weekend, Obama’s senior advisor David Plouffe appeared on several talk shows to dismiss Ryan’s plan and promise that President Obama will address it in a Wednesday speech — two days More…

Ryan’s budget plan would force seniors to spend most of their income on health care, analysts say

By | 04.06.11 | 11:59 am

Image by Matt MahurinFollowing the Tuesday release of House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan’s 2012 budget resolution (PDF), senior groups and analysts have come out specifically against the proposed health care changes, saying seniors would pay twice as much for health care as they are now.

Rep. Virginia Foxx uses questionable stats to attack health care reform

By | 03.21.11 | 5:16 pm

In an interview with The Mount Airy News, a newspaper based out of Mount Airy, N.C., (a small town best known as the inspiration for Andy Griffith’s Mayberry), Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) asserts there is plenty of access to health insurance in the U.S. when the true picture is More…

Taxpayers have been paying for Viagra prescriptions due to software error

By | 03.16.11 | 9:26 am

While some lawmakers are trying to prevent nary a taxpayer cent from ever coming into contact with a clinic that also provides abortion, there’s a group out there whose sexual practices have been partially funded by taxpayers. And that group is senior citizens.

Recently, the Health and Human Services More…

GOP governors pushing block grants for Medicaid, policy analysts worry millions could lose coverage

By | 03.07.11 | 2:24 pm

Among the many Republican-backed provisions to cut federal spending is the proposal to transform Medicaid into block grants.

Republicans have posited the initiative as a reform on Medicaid, claiming the transformation will save $180 billion within the next 10 years, according to Kaiser Health News. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates

Government considers funding extra STD tests for seniors, disabled

By | 02.25.11 | 11:00 am

Updated: 12:09 p.m.

Seniors and people with disabilities who receive health care through Medicare* might have an additional service covered in the near future: testing for sexually transmitted diseases such syphilis, gonorrhea and hepatitis B, according to a Reuters report. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is due More…

Government offers states billions in grants to move disabled out of institutions

By | 02.24.11 | 10:37 am

At a time when many states are slicing services for people with disabilities across the nation, the federal government has come through with a welcome offering: $4.3 billion in grant money that will go to states implementing programs that transition Medicaid beneficiaries out of institutions and nursing homes and into More…

In Iowa, Gary Johnson calls for cuts to Social Security, Medicare and national defense

By | 02.10.11 | 9:40 am | More from The Iowa Independent

Former New Mexico Republican Gov. Gary Johnson is sometimes referred to as a libertarian for his limited government positions, of which he says he’s seen a real embrace. And after decades of growing government spending, Johnson believes the country is finally serious about addressing the federal budget deficit. More…