Budget talk mostly for framing debate

President Obama outlined a plan to trim the nation’s deficit by $4 trillion during the next dozen years, at press time.
The president’s address sought to put Democrats on the offensive as a nationwide debate about priorities and future spending heats up. It also was largely a response to a Republican-led plan written by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI).  This proposal would essentially turn Medicare into a voucher program and provide states with block grants to fund Medicaid.

Obama blasted the approach.

“It’s a vision that says up to 50 million Americans have to lose their health insurance in order for us to reduce the deficit,” Obama said. “Who are these 50 million Americans? Many are somebody’s grandparents, maybe one of yours, who wouldn’t be able to afford nursing home care without Medicaid,” he said.

Long-term care groups are taking a wait-and-see attitude.