Blog and News

Welcome to D4PC "Morning Rounds", your daily review of healthcare news and information from Washington, DC and around the nation. These briefings will keep you up to date on recent developments and our effort to replace the PPACA with patient-centered reforms that protect the doctor-patient relationship and preserve individual freedom of choice.

"Obamacare's Medicaid Expansion Alone Could Cost Nearly $1 Trillion, Reason.com

"While the cost of the beefed-up Medicaid program could be as low as $34 billion a year, they could also be as high as $98 billion, meaning that a full decade of the Medicaid expansion alone could end up costing nearly $1 trillion—more than the entire law was supposed to cost in its first ten year out of the gate. Medicaid enrollment will be determined largely by the extent to which federal and state efforts encourage or discourage eligible people from enrolling."

"This is a strong sign that the actual enrollment figures will end up at the higher end of the spectrum. But both states and the federal government will have an incentive to ensure that insurance coverage is high under the law. Just look at the proto-ObamaCare reform in Massachusetts........."


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"Obamacare Healthcare Penalizes Marriage", Fox News

Critics say that beginning in 2014, Americans will find it more advantageous to stay single than marry because it will be easier to afford health coverage.

Why? The new law provides generous subsidies for those without insurance so they can buy it on the new exchanges, but the subsidies are tied to one's income level and there's the rub.

The income measure for subsidy purposes are not based on individuals but rather on families. And that creates a perverse incentive.


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"Democrats Block usage of Word 'Obamacare' In Congressional Mailings", Forbes

"I’ve never understood why some liberals think that it’s unfair to use the term “Obamacare” to describe the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (Was it equally partisan when people described Ronald Reagan’s economic policies as “Reaganomics”?) It’s easy to pronounce, and accurately describes the law that the President considers to be his signature legislative achievement. I’ve used the terms “Romneycare” and “Ryancare” to describe those politicians’ health policies".