Galen Institute

Seniors, beware. Buried in the president’s deficit speech this week was a plan to give even more powers to the Medicare rationing board created in his health-overhaul law.President Obama proposes giving the unelected, unaccountable Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) new authority to tighten the screws on payments. He clearly sees rationing as the tool to control costs by setting “a more … [Read more...] about Doubling Down on Obamacare Rationing

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYWhile much has been said about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), lengthy debates have failed to adequately address the impact that the 2,800 pages will have on doctors, patients, and the practice of medicine. This Galen Institute white paper does just that. This paper examines in detail how the government already hinders physicians’ abilities to … [Read more...] about The New Health Law: Bad for Doctors, Awful for Patients

House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan is working to save Medicare with his proposal to begin modernizing the program through premium support.Joseph A. Antos of the American Enterprise Institute took the lead in developing a letter sent to congressional leaders last week endorsing this concept, and the letter was signed by 30 of our colleagues in the policy community.The key message: “The … [Read more...] about Premium Support Will Be Good for Seniors

Medicare is an antiquated program desperately in need of reform. Its fee-for-service design leads to uncoordinated and often duplicative care, it is facing $30 trillion in unfunded liabilities, and there are so many gaps in coverage that most senior citizens are forced to obtain supplemental insurance. Retiree health coverage and Medigap plans help those fortunate enough to have them. For more … [Read more...] about Patient-Centered Program

Gov. Susana Martinez should oppose efforts by the state legislature to establish a health insurance exchange because it will turn the state into little more than a contractor to the federal government in implementing the new health overhaul law.Further, the state should return the $1 million in federal funds it has taken to study creation of an exchange. New Mexico must retain its independence so … [Read more...] about Say No to ObamaCare’s Exchanges

If only it were actually were true! According to a recent the Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, nearly half of Americans believe that ObamaCare either has been repealed or aren't sure. Just over half correctly understand that this government takeover of health care continues unabated.It's not surprising that people are confused. The House voted to repeal the law in January by a large margin, and … [Read more...] about ObamaCare: Still a Clear and Present Danger

House Republicans will begin a new conversation in Washington as they offer a bold plan to start putting our fiscal house in order. A survey conducted last week for Let Freedom Ring, a grassroots organization supporting the conservative agenda, shows Americans are ready.“Suppose a family was spending $16,000 more than they earn and they charged it to their credit card,” the survey asked. “If they … [Read more...] about The Budget’s Path to Prosperity