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Health insurers in states' cross hairs
Submitted by John R. Graham on 8.30.2011
The new health care law encourages state politicians to increase their interference with health insurance premiums, an underreported aspect of Obamacare with consequences for patients and health plans alike. Obamacare distributes federal grants that encourage states' insurance departments to increase their power to dictate insurance premiums. States are responding by considering new laws to increase those powers, but there is no evidence that such measures reduce the growth of premiums below those in states where insurance departments wield no such power. More seriously, the future wave of political interference threatens the solvency of health plans.
Over-The-Counter Remedies That Would Reduce Health Care Costs
Submitted by Sally C. Pipes on 8.30.2011
Earlier this month, the pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced that it may ask the Food and Drug Administration to allow it to market the cholesterol-lowering statin Lipitor over the counter after its patent expires in November. The FDA has not yet signaled whether it would approve Pfizer’s proposal. And some doctors have reacted coolly to the possibility of an OTC version of Lipitor.
Competing To Save The Health-Care System Money
Submitted by Sally C. Pipes on 8.23.2011
American seniors recently received some good news — they won’t be seeing higher premiums in 2012 for their Medicare prescription drug benefits. In fact, the rates they pay for prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D will decline this coming year, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Federal War Against Medical Technology
Submitted by Benjamin Zycher, Ph.D on 8.19.2011
At about $75 billion annually, U.S. private-sector investment in medical technology is substantial, and a large body of research demonstrates that the economic returns to these investments are enormous. But emerging federal policies are likely to create powerful disincentives for the research and development of medical innovations, in particular, pharmaceuticals and medical devices and equipment.
The Latest ObamaCare Assault On Health Care Innovation
Submitted by Sally C. Pipes on 8.16.2011
The list of health services that ObamaCare requires all insurers to cover without co-pays or deductibles keeps growing. The latest additions include an array of “women’s wellness” services and products: birth control, breast pumps, domestic violence counseling, and more.
Counting Up ObamaCare’s Health Cost Inflation
Submitted by Sally C. Pipes on 8.9.2011
It’s time to add yet another study to the growing list of research showing that ObamaCare isn’t delivering on its grand promises. In the July issue of the journal Health Affairs, Medicare’s actuaries released new estimates of the rate of growth of national health costs. Surprise, surprise — they’re projected to increase over the next decade.
Political control unhelpful
Submitted by John R. Graham on 8.5.2011
Faced with spiraling statewide health costs, Massachusetts passed a law in 2008 mandating the state’s attorney general to issue annual reports with recommendations on how to keep a lid on spending. On June 22, Martha Coakley released her latest report, which recommended that the state impose price controls on medical providers.
How ObamaCare Threatens Solvency Of Health Insurers
Submitted by John R. Graham on 8.3.2011
One of the most remarkable outcomes of ObamaCare is how the stock market has treated commercial health plans, which have rallied significantly. In the two years between the 2008 and 2010 elections, the Morgan Stanley Healthcare Payors' Index rallied 26% (annualized), vs. only 9% for the S&P 500.
Senior Citizens Will Pay Dearly For Health Care Price Controls
Submitted by Sally C. Pipes on 8.2.2011
Squabbles over spending cuts have ruled the negotiations over increasing the debt ceiling. But even after the ink is dry on the budget deal just passed, lawmakers will still be charged with reducing federal spending further.
Why Don’t Health Insurance Exchanges Work?
Submitted by John R. Graham on 8.2.2011
A previous entry reported and discussed the lackluster — basically non-existent — results of the Utah Health Exchange, and promised to explain why unsubsidized exchanges are unlikely to attract significant numbers of beneficiaries from the small-group market.
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