Official Washington still is struggling to understand and adapt to the populist wave that carried Donald Trump to the White House. Anger and denial linger still, emotions rooted in the social and economic chasm between Trump voters and the political class. What does this mean for health? The first fight is already shaping up, of course, over Obamacare. Before the election, the way forward … [Read more...] about How To Fix Health Care in a Populist Moment
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Let States Exchange Obamacare For Something Better
In the 34 states that did not establish Obamacare exchanges, Governors nervously await a Supreme Court ruling that could throw their health insurance markets into chaos. Meanwhile, many of the Governors who did establish exchanges are regretting their decision. More than five years after its enactment, Obamacare has proven a bitter brew for many states. Nowhere is this more evident than in … [Read more...] about Let States Exchange Obamacare For Something Better
Chris Jacobs: Obamacare Enrollment Split: Subsidies vs. No Subsidies
The Wall Street Journal, March 30, 2015 Two reports released in the past week demonstrate a potential bifurcation in state insurance exchanges: The insurance marketplaces appear to be attracting a disproportionate share of low-income individuals who qualify for generous federal subsidies, while middle- and higher-income filers have generally eschewed the exchanges. On Wednesday, the … [Read more...] about Chris Jacobs: Obamacare Enrollment Split: Subsidies vs. No Subsidies
Reihan Salam: Hospitals Are Robbing Us Blind
Slate, March 23, 2015 Five years ago this week, Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, and we’ve been debating it ever since. Like many Americans, I oppose Obamacare, and I think we ought to repeal it and replace it. Over the past few months, however, I’ve come to the conclusion that the fight over Obamacare is a distraction from a much deeper problem, which is that America’s … [Read more...] about Reihan Salam: Hospitals Are Robbing Us Blind
Timothy P. Carney: AARP opposes Medicare bill which reduces its profits
The Washington Examiner, March 24, 2015 A major player in health insurance is resisting a bipartisan Medicare bill that would hurt the company's bottom line. That's to be expected. Here's the odd part: The insurance giant is AARP. AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is most famous for its $16-a-year membership card that gets you discounts everywhere from the movie … [Read more...] about Timothy P. Carney: AARP opposes Medicare bill which reduces its profits
Michelle Ye Hee Lee: Did Santorum ‘invent’ health savings accounts?
The Washington Post, March 7, 2015 “I know Al Gore invented the Internet, but I invented health savings accounts, believe it or not. I was the first member of Congress back in 1992 to introduce health savings accounts in the United States Congress.” – Rick Santorum (R), speech at Iowa Agriculture Summit, March 7, 2015 Santorum was among several Republican presidential hopefuls touting … [Read more...] about Michelle Ye Hee Lee: Did Santorum ‘invent’ health savings accounts?
Rachel Feintzeig: Health Overhaul Leads to Shorter Work Hours
The Wall Street Journal, March 25, 2015 The Affordable Care Act, signed by President Obama five years ago this week, sparked a host of changes. For some workers, the law’s legacy amounts to fewer hours of paid work. The law’s requirement that larger employers provide affordable insurance to workers putting in 30-plus hour weeks has led some companies to cap the number of hours employees can … [Read more...] about Rachel Feintzeig: Health Overhaul Leads to Shorter Work Hours
Joseph Antos and James C. Capretta: Unpacking The Burr-Hatch-Upton Plan
Health Affairs Blog, March 24, 2015 Anticipating the upcoming Supreme Court decision on King v. Burwell, which could halt health insurance subsidies available through the federal exchange, Republican Senators Richard Burr and Orrin Hatch joined with Representative Fred Upton to propose a comprehensive replacement for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Patient Choice, Affordability, … [Read more...] about Joseph Antos and James C. Capretta: Unpacking The Burr-Hatch-Upton Plan