W. Baker wrote:
> In alt.support.diabetes BJ in Texas >
> wrote:
>> Ray Bowler wrote:
>>>>> For years, Democratic lawmakers have been working to make
>>>>> sure that seniors have access to prescription drugs and
>>>>> reasonable healthcare.
>>>>
>>>> Obviously if left to the Dems you would wait for many more
>>>> years.
>>>> At least you are getting something.... BJ
>>>>
>>> The Senate Democrats and Republicans had a good bill passed
>>> then the House Republicans destroyed it. The reason we
>>> haven't had a good bill in the past years is because of the
>>> insurance industry lobbying expecially in the last 9 years
>>> of Republican control.
>
>> The Dems had control for 40+ years and nothing was done.. BJ
>
> Well, they passed the original Medicare bill over the loud
> objections of the Republicans, and, if I recall correctly,
> the American Medical Association. At that time meds were not
> a big part of medical care,
> so the were ot included.
>
> Wendy


The AMA was against Medicare when it was originally passed in 1965.
Individual physicians were pretty evenly split for and against with slightly
more for. In 1965 Medicare had its supporters and detractors on both
sides of the aisle in congress. There was more disagreement on implemtation
than on wheither it should be passed. One major argument was over wheither
or not it should contain a prescription drug benefit.