Oncology association ‘horrified’ by Specter’s vote against Medicare bill.
By on Jul 3rd, 2008 at 10:20 am
Oncology association ‘horrified’ by Specter’s vote against Medicare bill.
Earlier this week, Politico reported that Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) switched his vote and opposed an increase in Medicare payments to doctors, after he made a deal with the White House. Officials promised Specter, who has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, “an administrative fix to increase Medicare reimbursements for oncologists.” Yet at least one medical association, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, is “horrified” by Specter’s actions and assured Hill staff yesterday that it did not lobby him for the deal.
Update Igor Volsky writes in the Wonk Room that “conservatives sided with the insurance lobby” in the recent Senate debate over Medicare pay cuts.
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Afghanistan
Bachmann
Beck
Boehner
Business
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
Dobbs
Economy
Education
Election
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Global Warming
Health Care
Hoffman
Immigration
International Relations
Iraq
Justice
LGBT
Lieberman
Limbaugh
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Politics
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Sports
Steele
Stimulus
Tea Parties
Tea Party
Terrorism
Veterans
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
Typical Republican: I got mine – I don’t care about anybody else.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:23 amEarlier this week, Politico reported that Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) switched his vote and opposed an increase in Medicare payments to doctors, after he made a deal with the White House.
What the hell does he care? He doesn’t have to rely on Medicare.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:24 amTypical Sphinctor behavior…shaking off the devil while trying to play God.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:26 amSpecter will have this and many other sell-outs to answer for, whether in this life or the next one.
A typical Repug POS.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:30 am“conservatives sided with the insurance lobby”
Money always comes first in Republican world. And, people last.
It’s why Karl Marx knew that whatever preceeded Capitalism, it would shift the priorities, because money as the main priority simply doesn’t work. It should be living things. We are closer to that socialistic reform than most people realize. And that will be the ONLY positive thing to come out of the Bush Regime – a climate for change in money-first policies.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:40 amsorry – ‘anteceeded’…
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 amConsistent behavior by Arlen: talk a good game then bend over for the Chimp.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:48 amWell a few months ago Specter was on television trying to sell his book about how he beat cancer. Apparently nobody was buying it and now he’s going to get even with everybody who didn’t buy his book and let them die. More and more doctors aren’t taking Medicare now. Way to go Arlene.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:55 amBush got John McCain to vote in favor of torture, now Arlen Specter votes to screw cancer patients. What does he have on these guys?
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:56 amSpecter was taken care of with his publicly funded health plan. So he’s happy. The rest of us- You’re On Your Own.
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:18 amGOP- the YOYO party
The U S OF A is the only country that values the dollar over its citizens. HOW SAD!!!
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:45 amHow many times does this make that Specter has changed his position after making a “deal” with the White House? I’ve lost count!
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:17 pmI’ve seen oncology treatment centers from the inside. I’ve seen exactly how bravely people of all ages and races struggle to live. I’ve seen how gracious and hospitable and caring the staff and patients can be in such a harsh reality. Now Senator Spectre has the colossal temerity to cut Medicaid payments to people who provide vital services to others in such harsh needs! Unbelievable doesn’t come close. If there is a hell the honorable Senator had better start praying now, ’cause that’s where he’s headed.
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:00 pmWhat goes around, comes around.
I thought this would be their reaction.
No matter how you slice it, this was a self-serving vote for Specter. He should be ashamed.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:01 pmAs someone who has to find health insurance for those 65 and over it is a nightmare. And I am told by our State’s Insurance Consumer department that “for some reason this administration is holding back on information about Medicare and Medigap health insurance to Seniors.” Could be a way to push Seniors into private insurance which can only be changed yearly unlike auto, home or life . So, Seniors are locked into a Plan which may or may not be beneficial and cannot get out for one year. A Plan Seniors are PAYING FOR.
Pretty sweet deal for the health insurance lobbyists.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:38 pmSpecter is worse than most repugs because he tries to portray himself as even-handed and pragmatic – but when it comes to the vote, he’s with W every time — now we see not only is he with W, but he made the exception for the doctors who treated his own cancer.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:47 pmThe last eight years have brought -for the first time – the most cold-hearted and callous thoughts and wishes to my mind. I have never before wished ill on people but I can’t say that any more – I am ashamed that I have those feelings, but the repugs have brought out my worst.
Marie, if you ever have time look back at Spector’s history. See where he stood on JFK’s assasination and who he promoted. A rotten apple doesn’t fall from a rotten tree, the republican party.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:51 pmCutting Medicare payments to doctors is simply a back-door way to accomplish what privatizing has not yet done.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:52 pmPrivatizing is still not popular but people will be forced to do something (die?) if doctors will no longer see Medicare patients because they can’t afford it. Those who do see Medicare patients will have to charge insurance-covered patients more.
But I seem to recall that there is a rule that doctors cannot have two different fee schedules – so if they take Medicare patients, they can’t raise charges on anyone else. I may be wrong but I do have recollection of something like that when I worked in the field.
#17 texaslady -
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:59 pmI just googled the connection and in five minutes I realize I am gaping at the words I am reading.
Arlen Specter was then and is now a slug. Talk about apples and trees — Specter is the partisan snake.
g0ddam repug.
I agree, this administration is trying to privatize Medicare which if it could be done fairly but not with the sticky fingers of drug and med lobbyists in it. You know National Healthcare would take care of the Medicare issues and help everyone, why are those so opposed ? National Healthcare works in so many other countries why is America so backward.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:59 pmMarie, you have to wonder what happens to people that probably start out honest and suddenly dishonesty is reality and honest is for suckers. Spector always takes one stand and at the last sides with bushie. A lieberman type.
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:01 pmYes, I have thought that, TL — I don’t know what happens inside a repugnican brain.
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:16 pmAs an aside, if people added up what they pay in insurance premiums and deductibles and co-pays for their health insurance in one year – I think it would add up to more than they would pay in added taxes for national health care where everyone is covered.
It seems to archaic and even barbaric to have health care denied to those who can’t afford it.
There is care, quality not certain, for low income, but the working poor are helpless. They aren’t living high, but for a family of 2, $300 a month for health insurance is high. Seniors are opting to move to Mexican American towns because they can’t afford even with savings American healthcare. What does that say about the supposedly richest country in the world. Pretty sad.
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:30 pmAnd personally speaking we will have to consider the Mexican option in a few years. It wouldn’t take long to use our savings and assets with one serious illness.
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:31 pm