A nonpartisan government watchdog said Thursday that the Obama administration is violating the law by directing funds in an ObamaCare program to insurers instead of to the U.S. Treasury. Republicans, who had argued that the payments were illegal, hailed the Government Accountability Office (GAO) opinion. At issue is ObamaCare’s so-called reinsurance program, which is designed to stabilize … [Read more...] about Watchdog: ObamaCare program made illegal payments
Archives for September 2016
Can The IRS Save Obamacare?
Obamacare’s fourth open enrollment period will begin November 1. For the Internal Revenue Service, it will be open season on uninsured taxpayers. In an effort to maximize enrollment, the IRS is mining the personal tax information of people who have chosen not to buy Obamacare policies. An estimated 8 million of them paid a tax for the privilege of remaining uninsured. Millions more claimed … [Read more...] about Can The IRS Save Obamacare?
We need to start over on Obamacare
If elected president, will Hillary Clinton be able to revive the Affordable Care Act? No. Having fully embraced the increasingly troubled Affordable Care Act, Hillary Clinton is surely hoping health reform remains a side issue this presidential campaign. But recent developments have propelled the failures of Obamacare back into the spotlight. Costs for individual Obamacare policies are … [Read more...] about We need to start over on Obamacare
Far-Reaching Medicare Part B Changes Violate Separation Of Powers — And With CBO’s Blessing
Members of Congress expressed outrage at the Congressional Budget Office during a recent House hearing for assuming that sweeping, untested changes to Medicare will save $34 billion “even before you know what the project is,” Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) said. “There is no cost-benefit analysis, there is no testing done, you don’t even know what they’re going to be looking at, but you’re saying … [Read more...] about Far-Reaching Medicare Part B Changes Violate Separation Of Powers — And With CBO’s Blessing
IRS To Target Citizens Who Aren’t Buying ObamaCare Insurance
As many as 20 million Americans soon will be getting a letter from the Internal Revenue Service “suggesting” they sign up for ObamaCare insurance. Getting a letter from the IRS can be a threatening and nerve-racking experience; it seldom is seen as a suggestion and more of a threat. But at President Obama’s direction, the IRS is “reaching out” to people who paid the tax penalty for not buying … [Read more...] about IRS To Target Citizens Who Aren’t Buying ObamaCare Insurance
Competition in Medicare Advantage, Part D, and “Extra Help”/ Working together for seniors and taxpayers
Seniors are beginning to get fliers in the mail alerting them to the upcoming open season for enrollment in Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. Both programs rely on competition and consumer choice to increase options and hold down costs for seniors. Open season begins October 15 for those planning to enroll or switch plans. Seniors will have the opportunity to … [Read more...] about Competition in Medicare Advantage, Part D, and “Extra Help”/ Working together for seniors and taxpayers
More Competition is the Best Cure
The most interesting thing about the PR disaster involving Mylan’s life-saving EpiPen is probably the least discussed—namely that drugs don’t cost what people think they do. Faced with a barrage of criticism for EpiPen price hikes, from about $100 in 2009 to more than $600 today, Mylan’s CEO Heather Bresch explains that her company gets less than half of the list price and that the remaining … [Read more...] about More Competition is the Best Cure
Obamacare’s ‘Crown Jewel’ Loses Its Luster
Former Obama Administration official Donald Berwick once called the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) “the jewel in the crown of health-care reform.” The metaphor is apt: CMMI, more than any other aspect of Obamacare, is an imperial enterprise. Congress established CMMI in the Obamacare statute with the goal of finding ways to reduce federal spending on medical care without … [Read more...] about Obamacare’s ‘Crown Jewel’ Loses Its Luster