It takes a certain type of mentality to find "Apocalypse Now" in legislation that expands the State Children's Health Insurance Plan and takes some pruning shears to the Medicare Advantage Program, but that mentality is out there sounding the alarum bells as if it were the end of the world that was being announced.
I have to admit, I just don't get it. Why make children's health the scene of your pitched battle on so-called principles?
The Medicare Advantage proposals are also providing a lot of drama. Witness this bit of hyperventilation from The National Right to Life Committee:
"While the NRLC has issues with several portions of the legislation, they are especially concerned that it would prevent seniors from spending their own money for medical care to extend their lives or those of their loved ones.
"The economic reality is that in order to provide Medicare coverage for the baby boom generation as it retires without unrealistically massive tax increases, government payments per beneficiary will not be able to keep up with medical inflation. If the funds available for health care for senior citizens from all sources are so limited, the only possible result will be rationing. Since senior citizens are required to participate in Medicare, this would amount to government-imposed involuntary euthanasia."
Now, folks, that is a leap that even Superman would envy. Government-imposed involuntary euthanasia because Medicare Advantage is getting trimmed? I think that even the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal would have a hard time swallowing that bit of apocalyptic balderdash. (But maybe not.)
But, back to children's health. The bill passed by the House calls for a $50 billion expansion of SCHIP. The administration wanted a $5 billion increase over 5 years, or $1 billion a year. The threat of the rarely used Bush veto is being wielded in this case.
