Health interests dislike proposed Medicare and Medicaid cuts

While lawmakers continue efforts to come to terms in the debt-ceiling negotiations, health interests ranging from public and teaching hospitals to the drug industry are making their positions known.

The Wall Street Journal: Cuts Would Only Shift Health-Care Costs
The $350 billion or so in potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid over 10 years that were identified in budget negotiations would shift the cost of medicine to public hospitals, the states and individuals, but wouldn't do much to tackle rising health care costs themselves (Burton, 7/13).

The New York Times: Agree On Debt Talks: Health Groups Dislike Proposals
Budget negotiators have not found a way to avert a government default on federal debt obligations, but with their ideas to cut Medicare and Medicaid they have managed to provoke opposition from almost every major group that represents beneficiaries and health care providers (Pear, 7/12).

Kaiser Health News: PhRMA Chief Says Support For Health Law 'Was Right Decision' - The KHN Interview
Kaiser Health News' Bara Vaida recently spoke with John Castellani. He said that, even though his organization opposes a current Democratic proposal in the budget talks that would require drugmakers to pay rebates to the Medicare program for beneficiaries who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, and that it would "do serious harm to the industry," it doesn't cause regrets about his industry's support for the health law (Vaida, 7/13).

The New York Times: In Effort To cut U.S. Deficit, New York Teaching Hospitals May Lose Aid
New York State's prestigious teaching hospitals could lose more than $1 billion a year as part of plans under negotiation in Washington to reduce the federal deficit that the hospitals say will lead to drastic service reductions (Hartocollis, 7/12).