Moe Leaks

More Medicare Cuts* *Well, not really. A primer on the debt deal's health-care bookkeeping.

“ Under the terms of the deal, the 12-member joint select committee is supposed to reduce the 10-year deficit another $1.5 trillion by November. If it doesn't, or if Congress rejects or Mr. Obama vetoes the package, spending would be cut by $1.2 trillion automatically, including 2% across-the-board cuts to all Medicare providers. Benefit cuts and cost-sharing for seniors are excluded. [full] Listening to Rush who just discussed today's WSJ editorial.   About how the WSJ, who applauded the debt  deal, just figured something out. If the select committee (dear God) deadlocks, and they will on everything, Medicare cuts will come from providers.  Not recipients, providers.  So, while Obamacare plops 40 million new people onto Medicare, the only reductions will be levied against those who are expected to treat them.