Gino Piroli – 9/26/05

This page was last updated on September 28, 2005.

Medicare program brings new debate; Gino Piroli; Beaver County Times; September 26, 2005.

As I have from the beginning, I oppose the Medicare prescription drug plan. We should be working to phase out Medicare, not to expand it. Government healthcare programs like Medicare are one of the major reasons healthcare costs have skyrocketed. The sooner we stop the government programs from interfering with the healthcare market, the sooner we’ll see more legitimate healthcare prices.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject column.

“A group calling itself the Medicare RX Education network recently sent a mailing to those who receive Medicare benefits outlining its interpretation of the new Medicare prescription drug program.

“The implementation of the program is expected to cost between $400 million and $600 million. Some conservative congressmen, in the light of the large expenditures to fight the war in Iraq and the huge costs related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, would like the president to delay the program, but he has indicated that he won’t.”

[RWC] Make no mistake, though Mr. Piroli cites cost figures which may or may not be correct, he doesn’t care about the taxpayer cost. He’s miffed the plan doesn’t pay for all medications for “free.” That said, if a Democrat had proposed exactly the same plan, I have little doubt Mr. Piroli would be writing its praises.

“Some of the information gathered from the brochure is that it will cost each standard plan enrollee a premium of about $32 a month and each will have to pay the first $250 in drug costs each year. The plan will then pay 75 percent of the next $2,000. You would then pay 100 percent of the next $1,350, bringing the credited amount to $3,600. After that, the standard plan will cover 95 percent of the cost.

“The plan has been criticized from its first inception by health professionals, those concerned with the growing debt of the nation, and the seniors who don’t thinks [sic] it’s the best alternative to what they now have. That’s why some of them dropped out of AARP when it endorsed the plan as a first step in the Medicare overhaul.”

[RWC] What was the criticism by “health professionals?” How many seniors “dropped out of AARP when it endorsed the plan,” Mr. Piroli?

“Why they did has remained a mystery, especially with the clout they showed in destroying the Social Security program changes sought by the president. They could’ve brought forth a stronger and better plan for the seniors and the government.”

[RWC] Mr. Piroli didn’t pay attention. AARP stated it believed the plan was merely “getting a foot in the door.” Translation: We’ll be back for a “free” medication benefit.

Regarding Socialist Security reform, I hope Mr. Piroli is wrong about it. While I’m thinking about it, in all of his opinion pieces bashing Socialist Security reform, Mr. Piroli has never explained why he believes Socialist Security taxpayers should have absolutely no say in how their SS taxes are invested.

“One criticism from the beginning has been that it denies Medicare from negotiating the costs of the drugs as is the case with the Veterans Administration and the federal employee health plans. Those costs will be determined by the pharmaceutical companies - bringing the fox guarding the henhouse comparison.”

[RWC] Is it the “fox guarding the henhouse” when the Times sets its prices? By the way, you don’t negotiate with the government.

“The fact that the pharmaceutical companies are spearheading this program and instrumental in the distribution of the brochure was indicated with the organization that made the mailing; it didn’t come from Medicare or the Health and Human Services department.”

[RWC] I’m glad I didn’t learn logic from Mr. Piroli. In his world, sending out a brochure is proof pharmaceutical companies were behind the plan.

“The logo on the return address says ‘The spirit of enterprise,’ U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and there’s never been a question of whose side they’re on.”

[RWC] As a reliable liberal/progressive/socialist, Mr. Piroli implies there’s something wrong with the Chamber of Commerce supporting business.