Comments (44) (Please sign in to comment)

1. 

   dtroutma said, 4 months ago

   Lie pro suction on all those in the industry screwing us over.
2. 

   Michael wme said, 4 months ago

   The total Medicare budget for 2013 is $530 billion, of which, as the cartoonist points out, $750 billion is a complete waste, so we could easily cut 141% of the Medicare budget without any reduction in the quality of medical care for the elderly.
3. 

   NebulousRikulau said, 4 months ago

   @Michael wme

   If you would remember from the campaigns last year, the $750Billion is over 10 years.
   
   Morin’s got it all wrong.
   Obama was going to CUT Medicare by $750Billion.
   Romney was supposed to find a way to SAVE $750Billion of Medicare funding.
   Right? RIGHT!?!?
4. 

   mikefive said, 4 months ago

   With that kind of waste, you would think that the government could afford a few more investigators to find and curtail the abuse.
5. 

   Respectful Troll said, 4 months ago

   @ dltroutma – Lie Pro Suction. I LOVE IT!!! Can I use it too?
   @ mikefive – thank you, that is one of my constant rants. More inspectors/auditors/efficiency experts/enforcers with firm guidelines can save our nation billions, even trillions.
   If Congress and the Executive will come out of the “shade” and into the light, they might actually see some solutions.
   As I left my doctor’s office yesterday morning, I saw to pharmaceutical reps talking in the parking lot with their SUV rear doors open and boxes of samples, flyers, and devices. They both looked like spokes models in their finally tailored suits and their flawless features. Not a hair out of place, and definitely NO flab under which an elected official might take shelter.
   Waste, fraud, and lobbying adds way too much costs to or health system. If you pay a company 1 million + to persuade doctors and politicians, that’s overhead and the cost gets passed to someone…usually, the US, or simply ‘us’.
   Respectfully,
   C.
6. 

   Ms. Ima said, 4 months ago

   A little fat is good for a person. Healthy nuts drop dead every day. Why not force trillions of dollars from individuals to pay a for a few people that refuse to get insurance? OTaxcare is crazy.
7. 

   Clark Kent said, 4 months ago

   There should be another big button on the fat guy:
   the insurance companies.
8. 

   Gary Kleppe said, 4 months ago

   Medicare has far less waste and abuse than private insurance.
9. 

   onguard said, 4 months ago

   You think this guy is fat. You need to look the upper lever of management(?) in Nonprofit health organizations. Start with AARP and their mix of for profit and nonprofit…….http://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/AARP-Salaries-E2698.htm
10. 

    TheTrustedMechanic said, 4 months ago

    @mikefive

    Sorry Mike, but that would result in “increased spending” and “more regulation.” Both things the republicans scream about even though they also scream about waste, fraud and abuse and claim to want to stop it. The focus currently in on the republicans because they are the ones screaming but then contradicting themselves when pinned down for action, Meanwhile the democrats simply say the same things, about different areas but then sit back and quelty let it happen because the focus in on the intransigent republicans. What we need is a completely new, fresh crop of Congresspeople who will listen to the people, cut everything that does not benefit the people. Yes that means leaving the basic social programs alone but if you use an objective microscope that also means leaving the basic military budget intact too. Sadly the only ones who would get hurt would be those who reap huge rewards for really contributing nothing to the benefit of society (read military contractors, for-profit hospitals, duplicate agencies with minimally different focuses that could be consoldiated, doctors who perform unnecessary procedures and tests “just to be safe” but who have financial interests in the companies providing those frivolous medical procdeures, etc.)
11. 

    TheTrustedMechanic said, 4 months ago

    @mikefive

    Despite my previous rant I do agree with you completely. I was simply pointing out the obstruction to your common sense plan.
12. 

    sclark55 said, 4 months ago

    Wow all those insightful buttons on his shirt. How about, Bad legislation to begin with?
13. 

    William Young said, 4 months ago

    These sorts of strips never show the super high cost of drugs and durable medical devices as budget busters,but they are much more of a problem for the budget.
14. 

    mythreesons said, 4 months ago

    Durable medical devices should be totally overhauled. Lift chairs, walkers, etc are not so expensive that a patient could not afford to buy them, and a local charity could provide one to a truly indigent. I cost MC about $500 for prosthesis and bras after double mastectomy and they sit on the shelf not used. Why should any bra cost over $100 just because it is covered by MC? But I was a sheep, and went to be fitted, not knowing the exaggerated cost.
15. 

    DavidGBA said, 4 months ago

    One mans waste is another mans scooter? Then there is the fraud!
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