Texas' Biggest Welfare Recipients

Dr. Reuben Elovitz, Welfare Recipient 

Thankfully more researchers are sifting through the data on who collects Medicare taxes.  The Texas Tribune published a table of the greatest Medicare welfare recipients in Texas...

Medicare Data Shines Light on Billions Paid to TX Doctors

Highlights from the research:

• 342 Texas doctors were paid over $1 million by Medicare in 2012
• 20 doctors hauled in over $3 million annually from Medicare
• Missing context like doctor's costs and number of patients treated make the data incomplete

Dr. Thomas Bochow received
$6 million from Medicare in 2012 

This Medicare data covers only the payment side of the picture.  Of course physicians have expenses which gobble up a chunk of their revenue.  In order to understand the net profit these doctors earn we need to see their financial statements.

As a taxpayer would you be in favor of limiting the earnings of doctors who receive taxpayer subsidies like Medicare and Medicaid?  Should they at least be required to make their books available to the public?        

These questions are ignored in the outcast media in favor of the popular Republican talking point that Medicare is an entitlement program.  Perhaps it is but ask yourself who is most entitled by the Medicare tax?

I have no reason to doubt that Dr.'s Elovitz and Bochow do great work and help many people live happier, healthier lives.  But we all have great reason to doubt a tax system as opaque as Medicare.