Tempers are flaring in Washington’s sweltering July heat over the looming government default. The debate is also heating up over one of the scariest parts of Obamacare: the powerful, unelected, 15-member Medicare payment board.Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified before two hearings in one week about the controversial Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). She did everything she could … [Read more...] about Sebelius in the Hot Seat over IPAB
Sebelius in the Hot Seat over IPAB
Tempers flared this week in Washington's sweltering July heat over the looming government default and the hot debates over one of the scariest parts of ObamaCare -- the powerful, unelected, 15-member Medicare payment board. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan asked Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to testify on Tuesday about the Independent Payment Advisory Board, and he challenged her to … [Read more...] about Sebelius in the Hot Seat over IPAB
U.S. Senate Finance Committee Field Hearing: “Perspectives on Medicaid from Select Governors”
I would like to commend the committee for traveling to Salt Lake City to hear testimony from governors about the huge impact that Medicaid has on their state budgets. States are desperate to find savings to get their budgets in balance. Medicaid spending has nearly doubled over the last decade, and for many it consumes the first or second biggest share of state expenditures, threatening education, … [Read more...] about U.S. Senate Finance Committee Field Hearing: “Perspectives on Medicaid from Select Governors”
Medicare’s Future: An Examination of the Independent Payment Advisory Board
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThere is no question that Medicare spending must be controlled if we are to have any hope of getting overall federal spending under control. The question is who will make the decisions. There is a wide diversity of opinion and legitimate concern about the new Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) and the powers given in PPACA to its 15 unelected officials who are charged with … [Read more...] about Medicare’s Future: An Examination of the Independent Payment Advisory Board
ObamaCare a Factor in Bleak Jobs Report
Creation of new jobs has hit a wall, with employers creating just 18,000 jobs last month and sending the unemployment rate to 9.2%. The numbers would have been even worse had so many Americans not simply given up hope looking for work. I talked about this on FOX News this morning in the context of health care, of course. Here is the clip: In every meeting, speech, and media … [Read more...] about ObamaCare a Factor in Bleak Jobs Report
Obamacare Decision May Invite Supremes to Limit Federal Power
The Sixth Circuit was the first of several appeals courts to rule on the validity of Obamacare’s individual mandate, and conservatives are disappointed about Wednesday’s 2-1 decision upholding the law. They shouldn’t be.A careful reading of the entire 64-page document shows the swing judge may in fact be inviting the U.S. Supreme Court to use the case to finally put the brakes on the seemingly … [Read more...] about Obamacare Decision May Invite Supremes to Limit Federal Power
ObamaCare Decision Invites Supremes to Limit Federal Power
The 6th Circuit was the first of several appeals courts to rule on the validity of ObamaCare's individual mandate, and conservatives are disappointed about Wednesday's 2-1 decision upholding the law. They shouldn't be. A careful reading of the entire 64-page document shows the swing judge appears to be inviting the U.S. Supreme Court to use the case to finally put the brakes on the seemingly … [Read more...] about ObamaCare Decision Invites Supremes to Limit Federal Power
The President’s Plan To End Medicare Part D As We Know It
Part of President Barack Obama's deficit reduction plan is to allow Medicare to "negotiate" prescription drug prices. This sounds sensible, except that government never "negotiates" anything. It sets prices and then tells sellers to take it or leave it.The president's plan is misguided, would lead to shortages and other market distortions, and would wind up undermining the most successful and … [Read more...] about The President’s Plan To End Medicare Part D As We Know It