Commentary
Commentary
Proposition 36 will work if given a chance
Proposition 36 was approved just one year ago, yet its detractors are already calling it a failure and urging its repeal. This is despite overwhelming support from California voters, who passed the measure in every one of the state’s 58 counties. Their message was clear: Californians want accountability and treatment ...
Steve Smith
November 18, 2025
Commentary
GOP must hold its ground on enhanced subsidies — now more than ever
There are many things to like about the deal that ended the government shutdown last week. Most importantly, it reopens the government without committing taxpayers to tens of billions of dollars in new spending on COVID-era enhanced premium subsidies for coverage sold through Obamacare’s exchanges. But the battle over these ...
Sally C. Pipes
November 17, 2025
Commentary
States Break Law with Medicaid Coverage for Illegal Immigrants
A new federal audit reveals that five states have spent a total of more than $1 billion providing Medicaid benefits to illegal immigrants. According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), “If you live in Texas or Florida, and you’re paying U.S. federal ...
Sally C. Pipes
November 14, 2025
Business & Economics
Who was really to blame for the government shutdown?
The U.S. government shutdown has finally come to an end after 43 days that resulted in thousands of flights being cancelled or delayed, food aid benefits for millions of Americans being jeopardized and hundreds of thousands of federal workers being furloughed. But the question is: Which party bears responsibility for ...
Daniel Kolkey
November 14, 2025
Business & Economics
Consumers Benefit When Mergers Create Stronger Competitors
Kimberly-Clark is betting $40 billion that, despite the HHS Secretary’s unwarranted accusations about Tylenol, purchasing Kenvue will create synergies that will turn the combined company into a stronger competitor in the consumer health and consumer products sectors. Regardless of whether these gains are ultimately achieved, it is important that they are given the opportunity ...
Wayne H Winegarden
November 12, 2025
340B
340B Drug Pricing Program Overdue for Reform, GOP Can Help
Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing in October to discuss a federal healthcare policy long overdue for reform — the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Created to expand access to affordable medicines for low-income people, 340B has since fallen victim to rampant abuse by ...
Sally C. Pipes
November 10, 2025
Commentary
Medicare’s Paltry Doctor Payments Are Price Controls In Disguise
Specialist physicians will receive a significant pay cut from Medicare next year. That’s the main takeaway from the 2026 physician fee schedule released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in October. For years, physician reimbursement from Medicare has stagnated, even declined. Doctors are responding by leaving the profession ...
Sally C. Pipes
November 10, 2025
Commentary
Restricting Capital Investment Is A Losing Energy Strategy
The U.S. energy grid stands at a crossroads. It is facing an unprecedented rise in electricity demand driven in no small part by the growth of artificial intelligence and high-tech manufacturing. Simultaneously, supply is being curtailed by growing power plant retirements. It doesn’t take an advanced degree in economics to ...
Wayne H Winegarden
November 3, 2025
Commentary
No, the expiring subsidies aren’t to blame for next year’s premium hikes
Open enrollment on Obamacare‘s exchanges is upon us. People shopping for coverage will be greeted by higher premiums. According to one recent analysis from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, premiums for 2026 coverage will rise by 18 %. Out-of-pocket costs could go up hundreds or thousands of dollars, according to ...
Sally C. Pipes
November 3, 2025
Commentary
Medicare Wasn’t Broken Until Democrats Made It That Way
Seniors shopping for a prescription drug plan during this year’s Medicare open enrollment season are in for an unpleasant surprise. They’ll have far fewer choices than in previous years — and will have a harder time getting assistance purchasing a plan. The program’s cost to taxpayers, meanwhile, have soared. What ...
Sally C. Pipes
October 31, 2025
Proposition 36 will work if given a chance
Proposition 36 was approved just one year ago, yet its detractors are already calling it a failure and urging its repeal. This is despite overwhelming support from California voters, who passed the measure in every one of the state’s 58 counties. Their message was clear: Californians want accountability and treatment ...
GOP must hold its ground on enhanced subsidies — now more than ever
There are many things to like about the deal that ended the government shutdown last week. Most importantly, it reopens the government without committing taxpayers to tens of billions of dollars in new spending on COVID-era enhanced premium subsidies for coverage sold through Obamacare’s exchanges. But the battle over these ...
States Break Law with Medicaid Coverage for Illegal Immigrants
A new federal audit reveals that five states have spent a total of more than $1 billion providing Medicaid benefits to illegal immigrants. According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), “If you live in Texas or Florida, and you’re paying U.S. federal ...
Who was really to blame for the government shutdown?
The U.S. government shutdown has finally come to an end after 43 days that resulted in thousands of flights being cancelled or delayed, food aid benefits for millions of Americans being jeopardized and hundreds of thousands of federal workers being furloughed. But the question is: Which party bears responsibility for ...
Consumers Benefit When Mergers Create Stronger Competitors
Kimberly-Clark is betting $40 billion that, despite the HHS Secretary’s unwarranted accusations about Tylenol, purchasing Kenvue will create synergies that will turn the combined company into a stronger competitor in the consumer health and consumer products sectors. Regardless of whether these gains are ultimately achieved, it is important that they are given the opportunity ...
340B Drug Pricing Program Overdue for Reform, GOP Can Help
Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing in October to discuss a federal healthcare policy long overdue for reform — the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Created to expand access to affordable medicines for low-income people, 340B has since fallen victim to rampant abuse by ...
Medicare’s Paltry Doctor Payments Are Price Controls In Disguise
Specialist physicians will receive a significant pay cut from Medicare next year. That’s the main takeaway from the 2026 physician fee schedule released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in October. For years, physician reimbursement from Medicare has stagnated, even declined. Doctors are responding by leaving the profession ...
Restricting Capital Investment Is A Losing Energy Strategy
The U.S. energy grid stands at a crossroads. It is facing an unprecedented rise in electricity demand driven in no small part by the growth of artificial intelligence and high-tech manufacturing. Simultaneously, supply is being curtailed by growing power plant retirements. It doesn’t take an advanced degree in economics to ...
No, the expiring subsidies aren’t to blame for next year’s premium hikes
Open enrollment on Obamacare‘s exchanges is upon us. People shopping for coverage will be greeted by higher premiums. According to one recent analysis from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, premiums for 2026 coverage will rise by 18 %. Out-of-pocket costs could go up hundreds or thousands of dollars, according to ...
Medicare Wasn’t Broken Until Democrats Made It That Way
Seniors shopping for a prescription drug plan during this year’s Medicare open enrollment season are in for an unpleasant surprise. They’ll have far fewer choices than in previous years — and will have a harder time getting assistance purchasing a plan. The program’s cost to taxpayers, meanwhile, have soared. What ...