How the Grinch Stole Health Care

There's a scene from the animated version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" that fits George W. Bush to a tee. 

The lines from the poem read:  And the one speck of food that he left in the house was a crumb that was even too small for a mouse.  Then he did the same thing to the other Whos' houses, leaving crumbs much too small for the other Whos' mouses! 

But in the 1966 televised adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic, the Grinch actually goes back for that final crumb, leaving the family with... nothing.  This scene is remindful of yet another last-minute move by our president to inflict hardship on those less fortunate than he is.  (And what an appropriate time of year for Bush to demonstrate his aptitude for misgovernance.)

Low-income Americans who depend on Medicaid will soon face higher co-payments for doctors’ services, hospital care and prescription drugs, thanks to a new federal rule by the Bush Administration.  Enacted as a money-saving measure, the rule will allow states to deny care or coverage to patients who can't afford their premiums or their share of the cost for a particular item or service.  The administration concedes that this will cause our nation's poor to forgo medical treatment rather than pay the more expensive cost-sharing obligations.  (Which is, of course, the whole idea behind the rule.)

Igor Volsky at Wonk Room writes:  Rather than the Bush administration’s approach of forcing poor Americans to pay more for health care during an economic crisis, the federal government should increase FMAP — the percentage the federal government reimburses states for Medicaid — and expand the program to allow more Americans to buy affordable health coverage... But as more Americans are relying on government safety net programs for health care — or forgoing care altogether — the Bush administration is banking on “reduced use of services” and co-payments to help recipients become “more educated and efficient health care consumers.” 

In the midst of skyrocketing unemployment rates and unprecedented home foreclosures, Bush is gouging holes in the Medicaid safety net millions of Americans depend on to break their fall.

"Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all,
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small."

To a tee.

Comments

[Annie]

What is being overlooked is that this will result in preventable harm and preventable deaths of those least able to advocate for themselves. This is murder of your fellow citizens - and it is being done in YOUR name.

Bush and SecHHS Leavitt's Seasons Greetings are another big F*CK YOU AND DIE.

[Darlene]

And how, Annie. Bush Administration's motto: "Kill the poor."

[Paul]

As a supposed Christian, Bush presummably believes in Hell. That's where he is going at the end of his days.

[Marnie]

Now everyone should, as many of us already did, see how Duhyba can allow the carnage to continue in Iraq and Afghanistan, and could personally help plan tortures.

He not only doesn't care if people suffer and die when it is not really necessary - he wants people to suffer and die. And to do so directly as a result of his acts and decisions.

He even want to the Earth to die, as a life supporting planet. And he wants to be the master of its demise.

[Robert Maassen]

I have a total income of $3,431.00 per month. My share of cost for Medi-Cal is $2,831.00 per month. That leaves $600.00 per month for me and my two dependents to live on. Thanks for not Taxing the Polluted air and water yet!