Media Matters Daily Summary 05-26-11

Right-Wing Media Revive Medicare Rationing Falsehood Following GOP's NY-26 Loss
Right-wing media have recently attempted to renew the falsehood that the health care reform bill will create an advisory panel for the purpose of rationing care, in part in response to an upset Democratic victory in a special congressional election in New York state. In fact, experts have dismissed the claim that the Independent Payment Advisory Board will ration care, and the legislation specifically prohibits the panel from rationing. Read More

Fox's Tantaros Falsely Claims Ryan Plan "Doesn't Drive Up The Costs" Of Seniors' Health Care
Fox News contributor Andrea Tantaros recently claimed that Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-WI) budget proposal would not "drive up the costs" of Medicare because "[Ryan is] bringing it to the private market." In fact, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that under Ryan's plan, seniors' out-of-pocket health care costs would more than double. Read More

Conservative Media Revive Misleading Claim That Health Care Reform "Cut" $500 Billion From Medicare
During the debate over Rep. Paul Ryan's plan to phase out Medicare, conservatives in the media have revived the misleading claim that the Affordable Care Act contained "$500 billion in Medicare cuts." In fact, the "cuts" will come through eliminating parts of Medicare "seen as ineffective or wasteful," and experts predict that the quality of care under Medicare will not be shortchanged. Read More