Did the Associated Press through the GSO News & Record report an inaccuracy on Medicare Cuts?

"The cuts have nothing to do with President Barack Obama's health care overhaul."

The Associated Press
Greensboro News & Record, November 13, 2010

If “Obamacare” was dependent on the cuts to be “deficit reducing,”
could negating the cuts betray the electorate?

“…Neither the [the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)] bill
…nor the accompanying reconciliation…
…addresses the flawed formula that dictates physician payments under Medicare

…a bill passed by the House in November would scrap the SGR altogether,
replacing it with a formula designed to ensure that doctors’ Medicare payments
reflect the true cost of delivering care.

Pricetag: $210 billion.

…it was that cost that caused Democrats,
who’d vowed both to keep their reform package below $1 trillion and to offset the entire tab
to strip the doc fix from the larger reform bills.”

The issue has left Democrats in a pickle:
…with voters already weary of deficit spending,
[and/or borrowing] another $210 billion to fund a permanent fix.”

Mike Lillis
Washington Independent

If Medicare Cuts
are what makes the recently passed Healthcare Legislation “deficit reducing”
and the 23% cut is not enacted in December,
how could those who voted for the legislation be considered
not guilty of misleeding the electorate?

From an email from some supporting the elimination of the cut:

“Is the new healthcare law accounting dependent on the 23% payment reduction?

If the can is kicked down the road,
does the math in the healthcare legislation become not operable?”

George Hartzman

The answer:

“That is how the administration officials explained it to us…

…Their numbers are based on the law as it stands,
and it currently stands that the cuts will occur.

I think you know the answer to your last question.”

Lee Beadling
Managing Editor, Orthopedics Today