Consolidation of large hospitals and health systems is on the political and policy radar screens of both Republicans and Democrats, offering a rare opportunity for action in a polarized Congress. Janet Trautwein, who heads the National Assn. of Benefits and Insurance Professionals, explains how consolidation harms patients in “Healthcare Concentration Is Far From What the Doctor … [Read more...] about Tackling Hospital Consolidation, a Key Driver of Health Costs
Published
Medicare Drugs on Chopping Block
The Biden administration is expected to announce, by Sept. 1, the first 10 prescription drugs it will target in its newly authorized drug price “negotiation” regime. Under the Inflation Reduction Act (more properly dubbed the Innovation Reduction Act), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will announce the 10 drugs under Medicare Part D that the agency will subject to its … [Read more...] about Medicare Drugs on Chopping Block
Progress On PATIENT CHOICE
The House is advancing realistic and much-needed health reform initiatives. Here is my piece in RealClearPolicy with more detail:For the first time in nearly six years, health reform legislation that’s friendly to patient choice, transparency, and market competition has passed the House of Representatives.It was nearly six years ago when late Sen. John McCain tragically gave a … [Read more...] about Progress On PATIENT CHOICE
Sanders’ Insulin Hearing — GMT for RealClearPolicy
Questions for Chairman Sanders | By Grace-Marie Turner | RealClearPolicy, May 8, 2023 | Insulin costs will move center stage this week when top executives of three leading manufacturers of the drug will testify before Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP) during a hearing on lowering insulin costs. If the committee’s failed … [Read more...] about Sanders’ Insulin Hearing — GMT for RealClearPolicy
The right way to save Medicare
One claim I find especially annoying is when people say conservatives don’t have ideas for health reform. That absolutely, positively is not true! It’s lazy to cite one thumbs-down vote by a particular senator in 2017 as the final say on the matter. We and our colleagues in the Health Policy Consensus Group offer a plethora of ideas and proposals—which are … [Read more...] about The right way to save Medicare
New Treatments for Obesity
by Grace-Marie Turner | Published March 20, 2023 at RealClearHealth | Obesity is a serious health problem for millions of Americans and for our nation where 42% of US adults are living with obesity. The association with other chronic conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes, is incontrovertible. Obesity also has been identified as … [Read more...] about New Treatments for Obesity
Doubling Down on a Bad Idea
Why Congress Shouldn’t Increase Obamacare Spending | By Doug Badger, The Daily Signal | July 18, 2022 | Senate Democrats want to salvage some of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better spending bill, and extending Obamacare health insurance subsidies is a top priority Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., whose support is crucial to Democrats’ passing the legislative package, reportedly has agreed … [Read more...] about Doubling Down on a Bad Idea
Learn to Live with It!
Clinging to emergency powers won’t stop the spread of COVIDby Doug Badger and Kevin Dayaratna |The Philadelphia Inquirer | April 17, 2022 Starting today, Philadelphia is reinstating its indoor mask mandate. In so doing, the city is failing to adapt policy to the changing nature of the COVID public health challenge, Doug Badger and Kevin Dayaratna write in an op-ed for The … [Read more...] about Learn to Live with It!