As the deadline approaches for a deal on deficit reduction, some members of the congressional "super committee" reportedly are considering a short-sighted proposal that could lead to adverse consequences for patients and taxpayers, including higher federal spending over the longer term. Case in point: An effort to change the way Medicare pays for some prescription drugs. Medicare Part B pays … [Read more...] about Deficit Deal Could Diminish Drug Access
Supremes Will Hear Obamacare Challenge
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear arguments in the 26-state challenge to Obamacare sets the stage for the most important constitutional test of freedom and individual liberty in at least a generation. The court will hear arguments next spring in the case brought by Florida, 25 other states, and the National Federation of Independent Business — the highest-profile challenge to the … [Read more...] about Supremes Will Hear Obamacare Challenge
The Super Committee Can Tackle Entitlement Spending
Hope is fading that the congressional Super Committee will agree to significant deficit reduction, but there still is an opportunity for members to take steps toward tackling entitlement spending, especially in Medicare and Medicaid -- the key drivers of our nation's ballooning budget deficit. These programs must be changed to meet their future obligations and for Congress to have any hope of … [Read more...] about The Super Committee Can Tackle Entitlement Spending
Ideas for supercommittee
The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction—the “supercommittee”—is struggling to develop a plan to cut at least $1.2 trillion from federal spending over the next 10 years. And this is just the early round of budget battles that are likely to continue for years, largely driven by massive spending on entitlement programs, especially Medicare. The supercommittee must meet its target in the … [Read more...] about Ideas for supercommittee
WSJ op-ed: Individual Mandate is Bad Policy
ObamaCare's individual mandate is the hot issue this week, with the voters of Ohio overwhelmingly approving a "Health Care Freedom" constitutional amendment and with two more steps toward a final Supreme Court ruling on the law. I have a commentary in The Wall Street Journal today on this issue, entitled "ObamaCare: Flawed Policy, Flawed Law:" Even if it were to survive the high court's … [Read more...] about WSJ op-ed: Individual Mandate is Bad Policy
ObamaCare: Flawed Policy, Flawed Law
The Supreme Court is expected to meet Thursday to discuss whether to hear challenges to last year's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—particularly concerning the constitutionality of the law's "individual mandate," which requires all Americans to have health insurance. With a split in appeals court rulings, including Tuesday's D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding the mandate, … [Read more...] about ObamaCare: Flawed Policy, Flawed Law
Romney still favors an Obama approach
Opposition to the Affordable Care Act motivated millions of Americans to throw more than 60 Democrats out of Congress last November—largely because they had supported the health overhaul law. Democratic pollster Patrick Caddell said voters saw the law’s passage as a “crime against democracy” and they want it repealed. A majority of Americans now oppose the federal health law, and only 18 … [Read more...] about Romney still favors an Obama approach
For the Super Committee, an Option to Save Medicare
The congressional Super Committee knows that entitlement programs, especially Medicare and Medicaid, are driving our nation's ballooning budget deficit, yet both Republicans and Democrats fear they are politically untouchable. But they must be changed to survive and for Congress to have any hope of controlling federal spending. Legislators can move past this political paralysis by taking … [Read more...] about For the Super Committee, an Option to Save Medicare