Blog and News

Retiring Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass) spoke frankly with a reporter from New York magazine recently. Frank stated that President Obama made a “mistake” in pushing for the passage of ObamaCare and that Congress should have worked on financial reform instead. Frank admitted, “I think we paid a terrible price for health care." Unfortunately, it is the American people are paying and will continue to pay the real price for the health care law in terms of higher taxes, higher insurance premiums, longer waits at the doctor and less access to care. 

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Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) has a new article on the subject of ObamaCare's tax hikes published in Investor's Business Daily. A key point from the article succinctly explains the impact on America's families, our patients: 

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Before the advent of Medicare and Medicaid and the HMO Act of 1973, the private sector funded over three quarters of the country's health care expenditures, individuals paid nearly one-half of total costs out-of-pocket and health care inflation was in-line with the consumer price index (CPI). When a third party pays the cost of routine health care services, consumers become insensitive to prices, quality, and choice of care setting. Individuals respond to lower cost-sharing (more comprehensive coverage) by utilizing more care, as well as more expensive care because they do not face the full price of their decisions at the point of utilization. 

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So, where are we now, almost two years after the law’s passage? A new report from the Department of Health and Human Services gives us the stats for the PPACA Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, or PCIP. After Obamacare became law, in November 2010, government officials estimated that they would spend $13,026 per high-risk pool enrollee. Nine months later, in August 2011, they revised their estimate to $28,994 per enrollee: a 123 percent increase. 

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A recent editorial published at A Line of Sight details many problems associated with the health care compact, an idea that has begun to take root in many states. The commentary should give doctors, patients and elected officials pause before they conclude the compact is good policy. 

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A new analysis from the Office of the Actuary of CMS (and published in Health Affairs) breaks down how much more government will be spending on health care as a consequence of the PPACA. This analysis concludes that in 2014, when ObamaCare kicks in, the growth rate for government spending on health care will increase by 50% compared to the year before (increasing from a growth rate of 5.5% in 2013 to 8.3% in 2014). 

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According to today's Wall Street Journal, the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) is releasing a new survey of how businesses will react as a result of the consequences - intended or otherwise - of the PPACA. WSJ states the survey concludes that "one in three businesses may drop insurance coverage as a result of the new health-care law."  

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President Obama's cousin, Dr. Milton Wolf, provides details on all the failures of the president's healthcare law and how even the most ardent, dedicated supporters of the law are doing everything possible to be exempt or "waived" from complying with it's mandates.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/25/now-even-the-loudest-obamacare-cheerleader-wants-o/?page=1 

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Former Congressional Budget Office Director(CBO), Douglas Holtz-Eakin, provides this excellent economic analysis of the PPACA and illustrates how the law's provisions will negatively impact the existing dysfunctional programs of Medicaid/Medicare, disrupt the private insurance marketplace, impede growth to American small business and become a budget killer for states and our national debt. 

http://finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/031611dhetest.pdf 

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It's been one year since the president signed the PPACA into law and the doctor has had a chance to examine the patient.  Unfortunately, for patients, physicians and the American taxpayor, the diagnosis is grim.  Despite all the lofty rhetoric, false projections and empty promises, the new healthcare law has failed to meet almost all it's goals.  The good news is there is a treatment available.  It is called repeal and replace with patient-centered, physician-led reforms that takes into consideration the perspective and experience of "practicing" physicians, not misinformed and sheltered academics and bureaucrats.  

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/03/Obamacare-The-One-Year-Checkup 

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Michael Cannon explains all the deficiencies and negative consequences of the PPACA and why we need to shut it down and replace with alternatives that will protect what works well in the current system while addressing those areas that truly need reform.  Furthermore, he makes the case for state governors to not initiate the groundwork for their state insurance exchange while waiting for a Supreme Court decision since this is exactly what this administration is counting on.  The SCOTUS decision may very well be influenced by how entrenched the roots of Obamacare have taken.  Complying with the HHS Secretary in laying the groundwork for this new bureaucracy will be counterproductive to states who are resisting the new law.  

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=12858 

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Galen Institute president, Grace Marie Turner, explains how despite the lofty promises of the Obama WH and congress, their healthcare plan is failing to meet those promises and is actually making things much worse for many Americans, due to premium increases, dropped coverage and less competition in the insurance marketplace. 

http://www.galen.org/component,8/action,show_content/id,13/category_id,9/blog_id,1551/type,33/ 

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