We've seen how Republicans have become fanatical defenders of Medicare in recent days--a "socialized medicine" program they have consistently criticized. Anything to try to defeat one of President Obama's signature legislative initiatives.
One of the principle Republican arguments against the current legislation is that the proposed cost-savings from Medicare will reduce the quality of care for seniors.
Putting aside the irony of this fear-mongering argument given the GOP's historic opposition to the program as a whole, there's plenty of evidence that it's just plain false.
The latest evidence is highlighted by this recent New York Times article describing how Richmond, VA has held down the cost of care while maintaining or even improving its quality.
The simple lesson: cost containment can work--and it can work without compromising quality. More tests and procedures do not necessarily mean better care. Sometimes they just mean danger for the patient and profits for private hospitals.
