Political control of the health sector has taken root over the last half century, mostly with passage of massive spending to draw more people into government programs. Federal spending on health programs now constitutes 30% of outlays. But Americans increasingly see its risks and dangers—with the scandalous difficulty Medicaid patients have in getting appointments, to the ultra-narrow … [Read more...] about Switch Gears
Modernize Medicare by Covering Anti-Obesity Medications
Medicare pays for expensive bariatric surgery as well as treatments for more than 200 comorbidities linked to obesity—including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers—but not for new medicines that scientists have developed that can address the disease itself. This is bad public health policy, it is harmful to patients, and it is inconsistent with a focus on care … [Read more...] about Modernize Medicare by Covering Anti-Obesity Medications
Medicare Hypocrisy
President Biden is previewing his 2024 campaign platform to accuse Republicans of making plans to decimate Medicare, saying in his State of the Union address last week, “If anyone tries to cut Medicare, I will stop them.” Mr. Biden needs to take a look in the mirror first because he is doing exactly that in real time, building on his long record of making deep cuts to Medicare. A … [Read more...] about Medicare Hypocrisy
Pockets of Progress
Liberals have one big idea in health care: Find new ways to spend taxpayer money and expand government authority over health care. This week was no exception in President Biden’s State of the Union speech—with calls for added pressure on states to expand Medicaid, to yet more COVID funding, and making the enhanced Obamacare subsidies permanent. The bigger government-funded … [Read more...] about Pockets of Progress
Government-Run Chaos
Health systems around the world are still struggling to recover from the Covid lockdowns. “British ‘single-payer” health care program is cratering,” Bob Moffit of The Heritage Foundation writes in the Washington Examiner. “According to the BBC, there are 7.2 British citizens awaiting medical care, or almost 11% of the population. “People suffering a heart attack face an average … [Read more...] about Government-Run Chaos
It’s Time
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy plans to focus the floor debate next week on COVID recovery, beginning with a joint resolution to terminate the national emergency that has been in effect for nearly three years. With even President Biden declaring last year that “The pandemic is over,” it’s time to make it official. We are in a very different place now in understanding … [Read more...] about It’s Time
Life is Precious
Liberals say we are crazy when we warn of the risks to patients—especially the sick and vulnerable—of a single-payer government-run health care system. Tight budgets—often global budgets—already result in long waiting times for surgeries and other treatments, limited access to the newest and best medicines, and less investment in the newest technologies. But it is … [Read more...] about Life is Precious
Build on Success
Health care is not on the agenda as a top issue in the new Congress, but it will leap forward and conservatives need to be prepared. The House is expected to focus on COVID, especially investigating the source of the virus, vaccine harm, and the calamitous management of the pandemic by federal public health agencies. Meanwhile, the Biden administration will proceed in as many ways as … [Read more...] about Build on Success