To the Point
Will Medical Care for the Elderly and Poor Be a Broken Promise?
The federal government promises healthcare for the elderly and the poor, but Medicare and Medicaid are steaming toward a "fiscal train wreck." The law requires the next president to resolve a problem that's been building for years. Also, Iraq's escalating violence.
By Warren Olney • • 1h 0m ListenThe federal government promises healthcare for the elderly and the poor, but Medicare and Medicaid are steaming toward a "fiscal train wreck." The law requires the next president to resolve a problem that's been building for years. How serious is it? What are the candidates proposing to do? Also, in Iraq, Maliki gives the Shiite militias a three-day ultimatum.
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In this episode
2 storiesFighting in Iraq Threatens Truce
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has issued a deadline for Shiite militias in Basra: lay down your weapons in 72 hours or face "the most severe penalties." We get an update from a reporter in Baghdad and two perspectives on the situation in Iraq.
Read the story15 minWhat's Left of the Promise of Healthcare for the Elderly and Poor?
A California doctor gets $24 to spend a half hour with a Medicaid patient, less than it costs to keep the lights on in his office. His plumber gets ten times as much to fix a plugged drain in 45 minutes. Medicaid and Medicare are in trouble, and everybody's known it for years.
Read the story34 min
