A federal judge is expected to rule soon on whether Obamacare’s individual mandate is constitutional without a tax penalty to enforce it, and if it is not, whether the rest of Obamacare’s provisions (including its insurance regulations) are no longer operative. If the judge rules against Obamacare, as many predict, brace yourself for a tsunami of hysteria. Washington’s chattering class will … [Read more...] about A Judge Will Likely Rule Against Obamacare. Here’s What Should Happen Next.
Replacing Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance with Government-Financed Coverage: Considerations for Policymakers
In an important paper the Galen Institute is releasing today, Senior Fellow Doug Badger examines the role that employer-sponsored health insurance (ESI) plays in the larger U.S. health sector and offers considerations for policymakers contemplating replacing ESI with government-financed coverage. In “Replacing Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance with Government-Financed … [Read more...] about Replacing Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance with Government-Financed Coverage: Considerations for Policymakers
Amgen Announces Major Price Cut For Its Breakthrough Cholesterol Drug
By Grace-Marie Turner— The Trump administration continues to work overtime to lower prescription drug costs for consumers. In response, some pharmaceutical companies have announced rollbacks of price increases, cuts in prices, price freezes, or other ways to improve affordability for patients. In the latest example, Amgen, a leading biologics company, is stepping forward to bring down prices … [Read more...] about Amgen Announces Major Price Cut For Its Breakthrough Cholesterol Drug
Congress Can Slash the Cost of Health Care Premiums by as Much as a Third. Here’s How.
By Doug Badger — A proposal to repeal Obamacare entitlements and replace them with grants to states would reduce premiums for individual coverage by as much as 32 percent, according to an analysis by the Center for Health and Economy. The Health Care Choices Proposal also would modestly reduce the deficit, increase the number of people with private health insurance and cut Medicaid spending, … [Read more...] about Congress Can Slash the Cost of Health Care Premiums by as Much as a Third. Here’s How.
Several States Have Found Ways To Mitigate Obamacare’s Damage To Their Health Insurance Markets
By Grace-Marie Turner & Doug Badger — A few states have found a key to undoing some of Obamacare’s damage to their individual health insurance markets by redirecting some federal funding to help sick people. These states are providing separate assistance to those with the highest health costs, thereby reducing premiums and increasing enrollment for healthy people driven out of the market by … [Read more...] about Several States Have Found Ways To Mitigate Obamacare’s Damage To Their Health Insurance Markets
State Innovation: The Key to Affordable Health Care Coverage Choices
by Doug Badger & Edmund Haislmaier— Obamacare’s rigid and centralized federal regulation of the nongroup market is failing. Premiums have risen, choices have contracted, and enrollment in individual policies continues to fall. Section 1332 of the Obamacare statute provides states with very limited authority to escape Obamacare’s mandates and test new approaches to undoing some of this … [Read more...] about State Innovation: The Key to Affordable Health Care Coverage Choices
Real Solutions, Not Empty Promises
by Grace-Marie Turner — Yes, people with pre-existing conditions should be protected. That is a hot issue on the campaign trail as Democrats hammer their Republican opponents over the threat that repealing Obamacare could mean citizens would lose pre-ex protections. But, like so many other things with Obamacare, the health overhaul law offers a promise but produces collateral damage in … [Read more...] about Real Solutions, Not Empty Promises
One Week At CMS: Steps Toward Transformative Changes
by Grace-Marie Turner — The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services is continuing the drumbeat of modernizing the two gargantuan programs it runs to generate more accountability, greater transparency, and provide better value for both patients and taxpayers. Administrator Seema Verma announced on Thursday a new proposed rule that would bring more accountability into “Accountable” Care … [Read more...] about One Week At CMS: Steps Toward Transformative Changes