Obama proposes health care cuts to tackle rising debt

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by KHAS-TV

Story Created: Jul 5, 2011 at 5:34 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 5, 2011 at 6:11 PM CDT

Congress is back in session this week, tackling the deficit. The national debt is quickly approaching $15 trillion. But, President Obama has an idea to save money by making cuts to the health care industry.

The depth of the cut depends on whether Republicans are willing to accept any increases in tax revenues.

The goal is to reduce deficits by a total of $4 trillion over the next 12 years.

The most recent proposal would eliminate Medicare payments to hospitals for bad debts, reduce Medicare payments to teaching hospitals for the costs of training doctors, and reduce the federal share of payments to health care providers treating low-income people under Medicaid.

Opponents have already said the cuts could prove to be especially detrimental to the poor, disabled and elderly.

Next week, hospital executives from around the country plan to visit Capitol Hill to deliver their thoughts on the plan.

Local hospital officials were unavailable for comment, Tuesday.

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