GOP: Official Platform Includes Ryan’s Plans for Medicare, Medicaid

Story Highlights:
* The Republican Party yesterday released its official platform, which includes cuts to Medicare and Medicaid that are in line with the budget plan of House Budget Committee Chair and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan.
* The plan includes converting Medicare into a partially privatized system and changing Medicaid into a block-grant program.
* GOP leaders have not committed to passing Ryan’s Medicare proposal if Republicans take control of Congress and the White House.

The Republican Party on Tuesday released its official platform, which includes Medicare and Medicaid proposals similar to those in House Budget Committee Chair and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) budget plan, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” reports.

BACK AND FORTH: White House, Blahous Debate Federal Health Reform Law’s Cost

The battle between critics of the federal health reform law and the Obama administration has not ceased while the country awaits the Supreme Court decision. This week, Republicans deviated from their usual attacks and focused on a new report by Charles Blahous, the Republican trustee for Medicare and Social Security.

WHAT WE’RE READING: Medicare’s Looming Doom

• “More ‘Mediscare’ Hooey, GOP Version,” Washington Post‘s “The Fact Checker”: Long, long ago on a dark, stormy night, two political parties fought over who tried to kill Medicare as we know it…
• “Medical Students Show Gains in Empathy Are Short-Lived After Training,” American Medical News: An eighty hour work weeks will do that to a person.