People are starting to get excited about another Obamacare work-around: The section 1332 waiver. This refers to a section of Obamacare that allows states great flexibility in how they deliver Obamacare within their borders. The curious thing about section 1332 waivers is that they can only be issued as of January 1, 2017.
Two interesting options that every state should consider: privatizing its health insurance exchange, and combining Medicaid and Obamacare tax credits into premium support.
Read more at the Independent Institute's Beacon Blog.
Research and commentary from a former senior executive in the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Monday, February 8, 2016
Friday, February 5, 2016
Huge Health Jobs Hike, Especially in Hospitals
This morning‘s tepid jobs report, the Employment Situation Summary, was dominated by health services, which added 37,000 jobs in January. That is just one percentage point shy of one quarter of all nonfarm civilian jobs added. Within health care, hospitals dominated, accounting for 24,000 of the 37,000 increase – almost two thirds. (This is interesting because there has been a slowdown in health construction starts. So, there must be a lot of slack in already built facilities.) Hospitals are generally inefficient locations of care, so the pickup in employment in January is actually of concern because it likely indicates more expensive care.
Read more at NCPA's Health Policy Blog.
Read more at NCPA's Health Policy Blog.
GOP Congress' Budget Hits Reality Hard
The Congressional Budget Office's recent budget update revealed a dramatic deterioration in the federal government's finances. The cumulative deficit over the next ten years, through 2025, is now estimated to add up to $8.5 trillion. Just last August, the number was $7 trillion.
The CBO itself notes that "about half of the $1.5 trillion increase stems from the effects of laws enacted since August." In other words, this is the work of the 114th Congress, in which Republicans hold the majority in both chambers for the first time in the Obama presidency.
Republican apologists assert that Congress' powers to shrink the government are limited as long as President Obama is in office. This is true. So, let's see where Congress can go from here.
Read the entire op-ed at Real Clear Policy.
The CBO itself notes that "about half of the $1.5 trillion increase stems from the effects of laws enacted since August." In other words, this is the work of the 114th Congress, in which Republicans hold the majority in both chambers for the first time in the Obama presidency.
Republican apologists assert that Congress' powers to shrink the government are limited as long as President Obama is in office. This is true. So, let's see where Congress can go from here.
Read the entire op-ed at Real Clear Policy.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Is Health Inflation Really Quite Tame?
I sometimes feel the odd man out when addressing inflation in U.S. health care. I discuss the monthly Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index releases, as well as other monthly and quarterly economic releases that include health spending. I have suggested health inflation is stirring, which is counter to respected scholars like Chris Conover of Duke University and those at the Altarum Institute, the “go to” source for analysis of health inflation.
However, I seem to be siding with ordinary Americans, who are struggling as much as they ever did to pay medical bills. I expect people still struggle because, although inflation in health goods and services is low by historical standards, it is high relative to general inflation faced by consumers.
Read more at NCPA's Health Policy Blog.
However, I seem to be siding with ordinary Americans, who are struggling as much as they ever did to pay medical bills. I expect people still struggle because, although inflation in health goods and services is low by historical standards, it is high relative to general inflation faced by consumers.
Read more at NCPA's Health Policy Blog.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Health Construction Collapses in December
Construction of new health facilities collapsed in December, shrinking 3.2 percent since November, while other construction eked out growth of 0.2 percent. Over the last twelve months, health facilities construction starts have lagged other construction significantly. This suggests health systems are pessimistic about their ability to extract further revenue from the system.
Read more at NCPA's Health Policy Blog.
Read more at NCPA's Health Policy Blog.
Ted Cruz and Health Reform
Senator Ted Cruz has won the Iowa Republican caucuses. Over the weekend, Chris Wallace of Fox News challenged Senator Ted Cruz on his proposal “to sell health insurance across state lines,” citing research published by NCPA that concludes federal action to mandate this would be ineffective. The research in question is on this blog, here and here.
We got quite a bit of feedback yesterday on this topic. As a think tank, we endorse policies, not politicians. Nevertheless, some of our audience took Mr. Wallace’s question to reflect opposition to Senator Cruz.
In fact, Senator Cruz’ proposal to sell health insurance across state lines does not appear in his presidential campaign platform. It is in a Senate bill he proposed last March, in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s decision in King v. Burwell.
Read more at NCPA's Health Policy Blog.
We got quite a bit of feedback yesterday on this topic. As a think tank, we endorse policies, not politicians. Nevertheless, some of our audience took Mr. Wallace’s question to reflect opposition to Senator Cruz.
In fact, Senator Cruz’ proposal to sell health insurance across state lines does not appear in his presidential campaign platform. It is in a Senate bill he proposed last March, in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s decision in King v. Burwell.
Read more at NCPA's Health Policy Blog.
Monday, February 1, 2016
Obamacare Premium Hikes Are Much Bigger Than You've Been Told
Yesterday was the last date for open enrollment in Obamacare’s third season. Since October, at least six independent and credible sources have confirmed rate increases will be in the double digits. However, these are gross premium hikes. Net premium hikes paid by enrollees are distorted by tax credits paid to insurers.
These badly designed tax credits have a number of perverse consequences. They are so badly designed that they impose a ratchet effect causing net premium hikes greater than the gross premium hikes. According to new research published by the National Center for Policy Analysis, this effect is concentrated among Obamacare enrollees in the lowest income brackets.
Read the entire column at Forbes.
These badly designed tax credits have a number of perverse consequences. They are so badly designed that they impose a ratchet effect causing net premium hikes greater than the gross premium hikes. According to new research published by the National Center for Policy Analysis, this effect is concentrated among Obamacare enrollees in the lowest income brackets.
Read the entire column at Forbes.
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