Recent days have seen numerous analyses of the budget and tax plan put forth by Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan. Until now I’ve largely stayed out the discussion, viewing most opinions as primarily partisan in their approach. No more. After a bit of independent research into the impact this plan will have on issues that matter to me, and should matter to all Americans, I’ve come to my conclusion. The Ryan plan sucks. Let me walk through two keys issues here.
Medical and Scientific Research
While the Ryan plan is not program specific, medical research falls within the grouping of health and human services. That group would face a cut of more than 12% in the remainder of the current fiscal year. Over the five year freeze portion of the plan it will suffer an inflation adjusted 42% funding cut. Assuming agencies are treated relatively equally, that reduction translates to draconian cuts in medical research conducted and funded by the National Institutes of Health.
These are studies that go to the basic science of disease, unlike pharmaceutical research designed primarily to identify profitable palliative medications. It is from basic research that cures, vaccines and effective treatments are most likely to emerge.
Let’s put that into the context of skyrocketing health care costs. Nothing over-inflates health care expenses like end of life care for the treatment and nursing home care of long term terminal illnesses like stroke, cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease. Being serious about controlling the costs of health care from a long term perspective must necessarily include finding those treatments, cures and vaccines that take these budget eaters off the table. And that is to say nothing of the cost in human suffering and financial devastation to family and loved ones caring for those afflicted.
To diminish the hope that comes with serious basic research into the causes and cures of disease is not only inhumane, it is penny wise and pound foolish. It is a short term band-aid that allows the wound to fester beneath. Now add in the aging Baby Boomer generation, and you begin to get the picture.
Medicare Vouchers
Anyone who is a regular reader of The Moderate Voice knows that I am no fan of the Democrats’ health care reform legislation. But, if health care reform is bad (and it is), the Ryan plan is downright evil.
The Ryan plan proposes replacing Medicare with a voucher system. Vouchers would be used to subsidize the cost of purchasing private health insurance for seniors. Of course, that would not take effect until the out years to make it politically palatable for current Medicare recipients.
Here’s the problem. The vouchers are projected to cover between 32% and 50% of the cost of private health insurance premiums. Remember that we’re talking about an elderly population living, for the most part, on fixed incomes. And, health insurance premiums are adjusted dramatically upward for pre-existing conditions, most likely to occur in the elderly population who may have had prior bouts with cancer, cardio-vascular conditions, osteoporosis or other diseases and conditions.
When the Democrats were marching health care reform through Congress there was talk of death panels and “killing grandma” from some opponents. The Ryan plan does not include death panels, but instead anticipates what I can only refer to as age/economic status genocide. To provide vouchers to cover part of the cost of private insurance when the recipients cannot afford to shell out the difference is a plan that condemns a large swath of the retired population to “go bare” without insurance for their basic and catastrophic health needs. It is a formula that calculates within its “savings” the suffering and early death of countless citizens who worked their entire lives to live the retirement dream.
Yes, we are currently spending at unsustainable levels. But, the shortsighted and cruel Ryan plan is not the answer. It is not a “Path to Prosperity” except for the fortunate few. It would be more appropriately nicknamed the “Road to Misery and Death” for many.
Contributor, aka tidbits. Retired attorney in complex litigation, death penalty defense and constitutional law. Former Nat’l Board Chair: Alzheimer’s Association. Served on multiple political campaigns, including two for U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR). Contributing author to three legal books and multiple legal publications.