Greenspan: Healthcare rationing needed to deal with debt

Here

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said the United States will have to ration healthcare to reconcile the rising federal debt problem and future entitlement obligations.

"We are committing far more resources than we physically have, and that means we have to ration," Greenspan said Wednesday.

Greenspan said the country already rations healthcare to a degree but must make more tough choices to constrain health costs as the baby boom generation retires and the federal debt grows.

"Maybe the thing to do is change the word ['ration'] so it becomes politically acceptable," he said.

Greenspan made the remarks at an event in Washington on the country's fiscal situation sponsored by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.

Greenspan said more rationing will be necessary unless the country makes changes to its political system, which he criticized for being unable to cut spending or find ways to pay for programs. He noted Congress' failure to pass a long-term extension of unemployment benefits because of a partisan argument over their cost. Senate Republicans have insisted that an extension of the jobless benefits for the rest of the year be paid for, while Democrats have said that the program qualifies as "emergency spending" that shouldn't be offset and should be passed as quickly as possible.

"We're coming to essentially a bankrupt process," he said. "Something has got to give. I'm fearful that medical care is the big 800-pound gorilla in the system, we have to shrink that one form or another."

Economic projections expect the costs of Medicare and Medicaid, the two big health entitlements, to be the main source of increased debt levels over the next few decades. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated the level of debt under President Barack Obama's policies to go from roughly 60 percent this year to 90 percent by 2020. That growth rate in debt is unsustainable, the White House and independent economists have said.

Greenspan said policy makers must do more to change the healthcare system from one that charges fees for service to one that bases payments on quality.

"You cannot have a fee-for-service, sub third-party payment system in an area where people find it's extra important to be in a position where they can get the care they want," he said.

Greenspan, who presided over robust economic growth in the 1990s while at the Fed, said the U.S. economy is now doing "okay" and "accelerating faster than we realize."

He suggested that inflation won't be a problem for another year.

"The global economy is still coming out of a very deep period of deflation, so the notion of inflation expectations pretty much at the moment [are] out of the system," he said.

Soon, the country will have to deal seriously with debt to avoid inflation problems, he said.

"We can't have a system in which you have very large deficits, a very large expansion in monetary base and not ultimately get inflation," he said. "It has never happened."

Ain't that nice eh? Now they care about inflation and deficits...

But eh with the planned future of america, it'll be taxes and no services... just like the robbers at the IMF said.

And you thought all those taxes were to give you health care? HAHAHAHA FOOLS.

It was always a way to give trillions to health care insurance, a way to tax you to pay the interest on the debt to the bankers, never to help you.

[edit on 29-4-2010 by Vitchilo]

I recommend that we start with the former head of the Federal Reserve and we cut off his access to doctors, medication and any and all emergency medical treatment.

Drum Roll please....Rush, Glenn, Cavuto, O'Riely, Sean, and the Entire Fox News Network TOLD YOU SO.

So now they come out to admit it after everything is said and done. I wish November was here tomorrow.

S&F, ma' frend'

[edit on 29-4-2010 by prionace glauca]

reply to post by Vitchilo


My friend didn't we talk about this? and many didn't want to listen, the HCR is nothing but another over bloated entitlement program with bigger Medicaid and mandates that will kill and bankrupt this nation for good.

As the work force will be hit with no only the mandate and insurances they will not be able to use but they will be taxed more to pay for the Medicaid for those that can not be mandated.

Wake up fools!!!!!!!!! we told you so.

The rationing will be with those that will fall under Medicaid. . .

Yep, plenty of people who UNDERSTOOD THE BIG PLAN KNEW THIS. WE KNEW THIS.

The difference between democrats and republicans?

Democrats rapes you with fake social programs, saying it's to help people when in fact it's to tax you.
Republicans rapes you with fake wars, saying it's to protect the country, when in fact it's to tax you.

Wake up to the scam people!

reply to post by Vitchilo


And now Democraps and Republicraps in congress are planning for a solution to illegal immigratns, occurs more taxing more welfare and amensty.

All to fall into the HCR. . .