While Congress is heading toward a major battle on sequestration, a few lines of text in the fiscal cliff deal passed in January are still causing waves, revealing both the extraordinary complexity of the law and the ease with which that complexity can be used for unfounded political hits. At issue is a small provision in the $600 billion fiscal cliff legislation which would reduce Medicare … [Read more...] about How Sensationalist Claims Undermine Responsible Federal Budgeting
Archives for February 2013
12 Reasons Why Virginia Should NOT Expand Its Medicaid Program
By Grace-Marie Turner and Avik S. Roy 1. Virginia’s Medicaid spending will explode According to a forthcoming publication from The Heritage Foundation, Medicaid spending will increase dramatically as the federal match rate for the expansion population begins to drop and as more and more Virginians are enrolled in the program. 2. Medicaid harms the poor. The Medicaid program is so … [Read more...] about 12 Reasons Why Virginia Should NOT Expand Its Medicaid Program
Medicaid Expansion Will COST Virginians, In Many Ways
Virginia, like many others states, is struggling with whether or not to expand Medicaid for uninsured citizens who have incomes up to 133% of poverty, as the new health law allows. The commonwealth should resist. There is no guarantee that initially-generous federal funding will continue, hospitals will have a larger number of patients whose care is compensated at below-cost rates, the … [Read more...] about Medicaid Expansion Will COST Virginians, In Many Ways
Obamacare Sticker Shock: It Gets Worse
“Already, the Affordable Care Act is helping to slow the growth of health-care costs,” President Obama boasted during his State of the Union address. Apart from the fact that the statement is untrue, the line will be a real howler next year, especially for the young people who so enthusiastically supported him. Doug Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum, shows why. AAF conducted … [Read more...] about Obamacare Sticker Shock: It Gets Worse
ObamaCare sticker shock: It gets worse
“Already, the Affordable Care Act is helping to slow the growth of health-care costs,” President Obama boasted during his State of the Union Address. Apart from the fact that the statement is untrue, the line will be a real howler next year, especially for the young people who so enthusiastically supported him. Doug Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum, shows why. AAF conducted a … [Read more...] about ObamaCare sticker shock: It gets worse
No end to ObamaCare’s hostility toward religion
The Obama administration is trying to convince us it has softened its contraceptive mandate, partly in an effort to calm opposition from the religious community. But the threat to religious liberty is as virulent as ever. The administration has not budged on its plan to require that female workers and college students have free access to "reproductive services," including sterilization … [Read more...] about No end to ObamaCare’s hostility toward religion
Tom Miller: Bumpy ride ahead for insurance markets
The Obama administration’s plan to implement insurance exchanges in time for Jan. 1, 2014, enrollment has met substantial state government opposition, raised more questions than answers and flashed warning signs of trouble ahead. A clear majority of states — 34 — still are not fully on board with running their own healthcare exchanges to comply with the dictates of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). … [Read more...] about Tom Miller: Bumpy ride ahead for insurance markets
Saving Medicare: A market cure for an ailing program
In his new book, AEI's Joe Antos explains the structure and financing of Medicare, the program's problems and proposed solutions for reform. Excerpt: “Premium support” is on everyone’s lips, but more often as a badge of fidelity to a political party than as part of a serious discussion about Medicare’s impending crisis and what to do about it. Members of the Democratic Party typically say … [Read more...] about Saving Medicare: A market cure for an ailing program