Watching the permutations of health insurance legislation and regulatory maneuvers by federal and state governments reminds me of my high school chemistry class. Mix a little of this with a bit of that may yield the expected result – but it may not. It could fizzle out or it may even create a dangerous outcome…. [Read More]
Politics and Healthcare – Nothing Is Easy
I had the pleasure of spending the day on Tuesday in Washington to discuss my favorite legislative topic – healthcare. First stop, the White House, where I met with the Special Assistant to the President for Health Policy. This was a lively discussion which covered rising drug prices, the opioid crisis, mental health parity and… [Read More]
Healthcare Reform… More of the Same
The Senate is making one last-gasp effort to repeal ACA… Well, not actually repeal, just reconfigure. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy have sponsored a bill, which will be eligible for consideration under budget reconciliation rules (i.e. 51 votes required to pass and not subject to filibuster). Under the bill the amounts paid by the federal… [Read More]
Republican Senate Makes One More Go at Healthcare Reform
Senate Republicans are at it again, and this one may be their last chance to deliver on healthcare reform. And it is simply amazing to me how this has morphed into a bill that no one will like. Even though an additional $70 billion has been provided to subsidize care over the next 10 years… [Read More]
Healthcare…What’s the Answer?
As the Senate wrestles with finding the balance to pass its version of healthcare reform, a proposal by Senator Ted Cruz looks like it is gaining popularity. This amendment would allow insurers to offer plans which do not comply with the Affordable Care Act so long as they offer at least one plan which does… [Read More]
More Details on the Senate Healthcare Bill
Debate is now raging in Washington over healthcare reform. Republicans are hoping to use the 2017 budget reconciliation process, reducing the required number of yes votes from 60 to 50, to pass this bill. However, there is a September 30 deadline that looms heavily over the Senate Chamber if reconciliation is to be used. Without reconciliation,… [Read More]
More Movement in Healthcare: Senate Unveils Better Care Reconciliation Act
As President Trump passes his 150th day in office, Congressional Republicans have finally revealed their healthcare bill which has been named the Better Care Reconciliation Act. The select group of senators who have been working behind closed doors to craft this plan will need to appease somewhat unaligned senators, yet at the same time be… [Read More]
