As newly elected lawmakers prepare for the hard work to be done in the next Congress, the future of the hugely unpopular Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act hangs in the balance.
In recent analysis, Heritage expert Nina Owcharenko makes the case for the full repeal of the PPACA and provides a framework for replacement with reform that will transform the system to focus on doctors and patients, not government. She writes that:
Beyond the unprecedented mandates, new taxes, massive entitlement expansion, unworkable and costly insurance provisions, and its failure to control costs, the new law concentrates enormous power in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It creates a giant network for the federal micromanagement of health plans, benefits, insurance markets, and unprecedented intervention into the details of health care financing and the delivery of medical care.
Because of these and countless others consequences of the legislation, new and returning Members of Congress must keep up the pressure to overturn the law. Once this is achieved, it will be time to get health care reform back on the right track towards consumer-focused changes that will address the many issues in the health care system which the PPACA failed to correct.
Owcharenko lists areas for Congress to focus their efforts, including eliminating existing inequitable treatment of health benefits in the tax system, and making Medicare and Medicaid work better for those it currently serves, and expands the states’ role in developing customized solutions. By focusing in these areas, Owcharenko writes that Congress can achieve lasting reform.
To read Owcharenko’s full report, click here.
There can be no equitable health care reform without tort reform. Pelosi not only ignored this, but made states who put limits on recovery and caps on lawyers fees ineligible for incentive payments under Abominable Care.
Section 2531, entitled “Medical Liability Alternatives,” establishes an incentive program for states to adopt and implement alternatives to medical liability litigation. [But]…… a state is not eligible for the incentive payments if that state puts a law on the books that limits attorneys’ fees or imposes caps on damages.
So there you go. Face it. The Democrats are nothing but a bunch of bought and paid for automatons catering to special interests in lieu of huge sums of money. It's more important for pathetics like Pelosi, Reid, O'Bama and Biden to enrich themselves and their bottom feeder buddies than it is to provide affordable healthcare for real Americans.
How about the republicans focus on jobs and the economy instead of spending another 18 months on health care. Over the last two years, Boehner and other repubs repeatedly bashed dems for not focusing on jobs – and now that he is in majority, he's not going to focus on jobs?
I know Nina in her webchat said repealing 'obamacare' was the #1 way to boost economy and create jobs – which has to be the most ridiculous statement i've seen in quite a while. It points to how poor a grasp on economic issues Nina has. The biggest job creator is repealing health reform? What a joke.
Sorry, but the most ridiculous statement I have seen in my lifetime is "You have to pass it to see what's in it" — Nancy Pelosi speaking to republicans and Americans about the health care bill. Was that a joke too?
We should be taking charge of our own health care costs. Check out Whatstherealcost.org
REPEAL OBAMACARE NOW
It seems that during the debacle for "ObamaCare" no consideration was given to the "cost" of H/C – only how & who to pay for that.
Government regulation might be actually helpful in regard to "costs".
In regard to gov't programs (Medicare, etal), a concentration by gov't in eliminating fraud, mismanagement, & ineptitude would provide much needed reduction in expenditures not involved with actual H/C.
The history of Congress is enacting legislation and never re-examining.
Obamacare will fail as written. But there's the rub: it's not Obama's plan and government backed health care can work. I live in Hawaii, where we've had a form of state backed, business provided health care for decades. It saved my life when I was young, and it hasn't hurt our economy much. No one really complains. Is it ideal? No. Is it better than da mainland? Yes. Can it be implemented on a national level? Maybe.
We got a freedom of choice, or do we anymore? I agree the healthcost is not affordable for many of us. We need a solution but Obama Care is not it in my opinion. This gives complete control of our personal health to the government. Now if he wants to procede with giving the freedom of choice to partake in his plan that is constutional right. Medicare for all, we need to look at the covered benefits and how they are depliting. Not to mention what is considered affordable to one is not to another. I have beed trying to research the complete details of the benefits and cost. There is no garantee and as soon as they are in control then it would be out of our hands to choose.
Just what USA freedoms have our veterans fought to protect? My health and well-being are 100% my responsibility, as are my life-style and daily habits. Forty years ago, I made a committment to feed my family the best quality & least processed foods possible. Medical expenses related to two births, one broken bone, and dental services have been paid with cash. (at a 5-10% discount) As a US citizen, I believe in the freedom to choose whether or not to purchase medical insurance. Care of my health is my responsibility, whether daily or in a catastrophic circustance. It is also my choice to donate to free clinics and faith-based medical care for those less fortunate. Obamacare must be repealed, freedom restored, and only then can medical insurance and healthcare reforms be legislated to benefit each citizen's need.