Bush Defends Medicare Advantage Plans--That and Five Bucks Will Get You a Six Pack

President Bush will shortly release his new budget. He will cut $70 billion from Medicare--largely from providers--and leave Medicare Advantage payments unchanged.President Bush's budget is about as close to irrelevant as it can be. The Democratic Congress will start from scratch.Doctors and hospitals have enormous clout on the Hill. Just as doctors have been able to protect their Medicare fees