Healthcare-NOW

The Illusory Promise of Free-Market Healthcare Miracles

By Wendell Potter for The Center for Public Integrity – While listening to the promises to repeal ObamaCare during the Republican National Convention, I was reminded of what those of us in the health insurance industry said when our friends in Congress were able to block passage of President Clinton’s health care reform legislation 18…

So Much for Fixing the Affordable Care Act Later

From Fire Dog Lake – I remember during the end of the health care reform fight how top Democrats promised activists unhappy with the bill that they would “fix it later.” I remember being told that it was very important to pass a bill despite many serious problems, design flaws and terrible compromises, because it…

Healthcare Spending to Remain High

Unnecessary care, fraud and high administrative costs are among factors. From the LA Times – With all the squabbling about healthcare, there’s one fact on which all sides can agree: American medicine costs too much, especially when you consider what we’re getting for our money. And as experts look toward the future, they don’t see…

A Glitch in Health Care Reform

From the New York Times – Confusing language in the health care reform law has raised the possibility that millions of Americans living on modest incomes may be unable to afford their employers’ family policies and yet fail to qualify for government subsidies to buy their own insurance. This is a bizarre development that undercuts…

Investors in Health Care Seem to Bet on Incumbent

From the New York Times – Who is going to win the presidential election? You might want to ask Mark T. Bertolini. He just bet $5.7 billion on President Obama. Mr. Bertolini is the chief executive of Aetna, which on Monday agreed to acquire Coventry Health Care, a huge provider of Medicare and Medicaid programs.…

The ACA Leaves Out, Cuts Funds for Uninsured Immigrants

From the New York Times – Hospitals Worry Over Cut in Fund for Uninsured Community Health Centers Funding Cut President Obama’s health care law is putting new strains on some of the nation’s most hard-pressed hospitals, by cutting aid they use to pay for emergency care for illegal immigrants, which they have long been required…

Court’s Ruling May Blunt Reach of the Health Law

From the New York Times – The Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday that the Supreme Court decision on President Obama’s health care overhaul would probably lead to an increase in the number of uninsured and a modest reduction in the cost to the federal government when compared with estimates before the court ruling. Of the…

Nixoncare Finally Wins

By Margaret Kimberley for Black Agenda Report – “The time is at hand this year to bring comprehensive, high-quality health care within the reach of every American. I shall propose a sweeping new program that will assure comprehensive health insurance protection to millions of Americans who cannot now obtain it or afford it.” – Richard…

Health Care Reform: We’re Not Done Yet

By Walter Tsou – The Supreme Court has spoken. The Affordable Care Act, briefly on the ropes, has been blessed as the law of the land. Too many feel that health reform is finally finished and we can move on to the big three issues: the economy, jobs and the deficit. However, because health care…

A Warning on SCOTUS Healthcare Decision: Needs Still Unmet

By John Funiciello for BlackCommentator.com – The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision that the president’s health care law is constitutional caused a flurry of celebration on the part of proponents of reform and a vow on the part of Republicans and other on the right to deep six the plan, along with the president. Proponents…