Yesterday’s post discussed what we know about Obamacare as its third open enrollment season commences. Here are four major questions about the future of Obamacare that remain unanswered. What We Don’t Know Can insurers make money in the exchanges without corporate welfare? Obamacare contains some very expensive sweeteners to entice insurance companies to sell through the exchanges. These … [Read more...] about What We Don’t Know About Obamacare, Part II
What We Know About Obamacare, Part I
Obamacare’s third open enrollment season kicked off yesterday, beginning the next chapter in its turbulent history. Today’s post discusses what we know about Obamacare. Tomorrow’s will discuss what we don’t yet know. What We Know Fewer people are uninsured. How many fewer is a matter of dispute, but the improvement is substantial by any measure. HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell credits … [Read more...] about What We Know About Obamacare, Part I
New Legal Challenge to ObamaCare
The Pacific Legal Foundation filed an appeal Monday asking the Supreme Court to hear a new challenge to the Affordable Care Act which argues that the ACA’s taxes are unconstitutional because they originated in a bill written by the Senate. Under the Constitution’s Origination Clause, all bills that levy and raise taxes must begin in the House of Representatives. Contrary to this provision, the … [Read more...] about New Legal Challenge to ObamaCare
400,000 Citizens To Lose Health Insurance (Again) Because Of Obamacare Co-Op Failures
The two largest state health insurance co-operatives created as part of a grand ObamaCare experiment have announced they are closing at the end of this year, joining others that have failed and even more that are insolvent and likely to fail. The Kentucky Health Cooperative announced on Friday it is going out of business and will not enroll new members next year, leaving 51,000 members to find … [Read more...] about 400,000 Citizens To Lose Health Insurance (Again) Because Of Obamacare Co-Op Failures
CMS Rule Undermines Real Cost Savings For Consumers & Could Cripple Fledgling U.S. Biosimilar Market
The Obama administration is proposing a Medicare payment rule that would have the effect of clamping price controls on biosimilar drugs, extending destructive pricing policies to a potentially vibrant 21st century life sciences industry. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a rule that would guide how Medicare pays for a new class of medicines used in physicians’ … [Read more...] about CMS Rule Undermines Real Cost Savings For Consumers & Could Cripple Fledgling U.S. Biosimilar Market
Congress Holds Oversight Hearing on Failing State Exchanges
Lackluster enrollment numbers, technology issues, and high maintenance costs are among the challenges plaguing ObamaCare state exchanges that were reviewed by the House Energy and Commerce Oversight Subcommittee at a hearing Tuesday. “CMS has seemed more focused on doling out taxpayer dollars rather than overseeing how those dollars are spent,” Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA) said of the lack of … [Read more...] about Congress Holds Oversight Hearing on Failing State Exchanges
Clinton drug plan would backfire on patients
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has piled bad new ideas on top of bad old ideas with her plan to try to lower prescription drug prices in America. Her proposals to rein in prescription drug costs involve forcing pharmaceutical companies to meet a government quota for investing in research, denying companies tax breaks for consumer advertising, and capping out-of-pocket … [Read more...] about Clinton drug plan would backfire on patients
A Bad-Actor, Not A Pharmaceutical Innovator, Causes Outrage Over Drug Prices
A profiteer masquerading as a pharmaceutical company executive has set the Internet afire with his 5,000% price increase for a rare but important drug used by AIDS and some cancer patients. Martin Shkreli, a 32-year-old former hedge fund manager, cornered the market on Daraprim, a drug used to treat a life-threatening parasitic infection. His start-up company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, bought … [Read more...] about A Bad-Actor, Not A Pharmaceutical Innovator, Causes Outrage Over Drug Prices