As long as the Obamacare statutes are, its implementing regulations are now five times its length. With the publication of two new regulations in the Federal Register on February 27, 2012, we calculate Obamacare regulations to contain 2,163,744 words compared to 425,116 words in the Obamacare statutes. That’s a million words longer than the last time we wrote about the length of Obamacare … [Read more...] about ObamaCare Watcher: How long are the Obamacare regulations?: 5x the length of the Obamacare statutes
Archives for February 2012
Michael Tanner: Sickening Regulation
Never underestimate the brilliance of our federal bureaucracy. The Department of Health and Human Services has announced that it must delay implementation of new reimbursement codes for Medicare. Those new regulations would have increased the total number of reimbursement codes from the current 18,000 to more than 140,000 separate codes. The delay will undoubtedly come as a relief for … [Read more...] about Michael Tanner: Sickening Regulation
President Obama’s Dangerous New Medical Board
President Obama is doubling down on one of the most dangerous provisions in his 2010 health overhaul law. In his proposed budget, he plans to give even greater powers to the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a panel created by the new health law to contain Medicare spending. The IPAB is one of the most egregious parts of ObamaCare because it puts rationing of care on auto pilot. A … [Read more...] about President Obama’s Dangerous New Medical Board
Ayn Rand Center: Shortage of Drugs, Abundance of Regulations
There is currently a shortage of more than 200 drugs in the United States. Among the drugs critically in short supply are anesthetics, blood pressure medications and a whole host of cancer-fighting treatments, the shortage of which has tragically left many patients with the grim prospect that they may not survive ailments that are treatable. Many explanations have been put forth as to what is … [Read more...] about Ayn Rand Center: Shortage of Drugs, Abundance of Regulations
The prescription drug crisis: Et tu, Washington?
The tragic death of Whitney Houston has once again shined the spotlight on the abuse of prescription drugs and the doctors who prescribe them. Legislators, experts and pundits are blaming physicians for liberally prescribing narcotics, but an honest debate must also examine how government policy has helped foster this crisis. The abuse of prescription medications is not limited to Rodeo Drive … [Read more...] about The prescription drug crisis: Et tu, Washington?
Linda Gorman: What Were They Thinking at Health Affairs?
Health Affairs is a peer-reviewed journal, which is why it was surprising to see it publish a recent article on the Massachusetts health reform, by Long et al [gated, but with abstract]. Based on telephone surveys, the authors declare that RomneyCare “continued to fare well in 2010.” This is an important finding, as the authors consider RomneyCare “the template for the federal Affordable Care Act … [Read more...] about Linda Gorman: What Were They Thinking at Health Affairs?
Brookings: The Quest to Balance Health Care Providers’ Consciences and Patients’ Needs
In a new paper, William Galston and Melissa Rogers provide a broad overview of conscience from a religious, philosophical and legal perspective, and then home in on conscience in the context of health care. The paper surveys current federal and state law and regulation governing the right to conscientiously object in the provision of health care, and explores the ongoing tensions between claims of … [Read more...] about Brookings: The Quest to Balance Health Care Providers’ Consciences and Patients’ Needs
Center for Health Transformation: Creating a 21st Century Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
The Center for Health Transformation (CHT) released a white paper today entitled, “Creating a 21st Century Food & Drug Administration (FDA).” The white paper contains a series of recommendations which would transform the FDA to better serve and improve the health of Americans. A 21st Century FDA is critical to fulfill the potential of our nation’s investment in biomedical research and … [Read more...] about Center for Health Transformation: Creating a 21st Century Food & Drug Administration (FDA)