WellAware is a weekly update on actionable health policy news for the business and investing community.
Happy Birthday, ACA!
This is a collection of quotes and reports at the one year anniversary of the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that may serve as a helpful reference.
On the costs:
“…ObamaCare will be far more expensive than advertised. To wit, CBO says the entitlement's health insurance subsidies will cost $1.13 trillion between 2012 and 2021, not $1.04 trillion, the prior estimate. This 8.6% jump is the result of revised assumptions, the so-called technical factors in CBO's budget model. The bill's total cost now stands at $1.445 trillion, according to another recent CBO estimate.”
WSJ, March 23, 2011
“Gifts of bogus statistics for the health-care law’s birthday,” in Fact Checker
Washington Post, March 21, 2011
On health care stocks:
“That’s right, it’s the one-year anniversary of the of big health care overhaul bill. So, we figured we’d have a look at how the past year has treated the health care sector of the stock market.
The unsurprising answer: Not good. Over the last 12 months, the health care sector is the worst-performing sector of the 10 that make up the S&P, down 1.6%. The S&P itself is up 10%.”
WSJ, March 23, 2011
From those who support the law:
"...AARP strongly opposes efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act."
AARP Bulletin, March 2011
“In addition, the ACA will improve the distribution of the nation’s health resources in underserved communities through increased funding for Community Health Centers, which have demonstrated the ability to provide high-quality care to low-income and minority communities, and several health professions programs that provide incentives for providers to work in underserved communities."
“All of these provisions will help improve the current state of health care for people of color, who are disproportionately uninsured and underinsured, and who face greater barriers to receiving high-quality care, even when they do have health insurance…”
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, March 25, 2011
From those who oppose the law:
“This week marks the one-year anniversary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — ObamaCare. Unlike the remedy we were promised, Obamacare has done nothing to improve the quality of health care in our country, and has already done significant damage to the economy.”
Red State blog, March 23, 2011
“So while some may be wishing ObamaCare a happy first anniversary, those who are paying attention are wishing it good riddance. Unless common sense returns to our nation’s capitol, ObamaCare is repealed and overall spending is brought under control, seniors will inevitably find their drugs and care are rationed.”
Fox News, March 22, 2011
From the states:
Connecticut
"On health-reform anniversary, Dems celebrate while GOP pledges repeal"
CT Mirror, March 23, 2011
Georgia
Governor says: "New health care law costing state, employees millions"
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 23, 2011
Iowa
“…expedited review is a bad idea for two reasons. First is the court's reputation and legitimacy as an apolitical branch of government. Second, this is essentially a policy debate, not a judicial debate…”
Des Moines Register, March 22, 2011
Missouri
“No doubt more wrinkles will have to be ironed out through legislation. Nobody ever said medical insurance and health care were uncomplicated subjects, and nobody ever said the new law was perfect.
The Affordable Care Act remains, however, the building block of a fairer, more humane and more efficient system. May it survive and prosper.”
McClatchy, March 22, 2011
Pennsylvania
“Health care debate roils Harrisburg”
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, March 24, 2011
Texas
“It has been one year since President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, and Texas is at a policy crossroads: We can choose to lead with responsible public policy or become supporting actors in a national political sideshow. The reality is that the success of health reform now depends on the states.”
Houston Chronicle, March 22, 2001
From the think tanks:
WEBCHAT: “On the first anniversary of the health care law, Brookings expert Kavita Patel reviewed the steps taken thus far toward implementation and answered your questions about the prospects for more action on Capitol Hill.”
The Brookings Institution, March 23, 2011
FACT SHEET: “Obamacare One Year Later: Why America Needs Full Repeal Now”
PODCAST: “Dr. Robert Moffit on the One-Year Anniversary of Obamacare”
Heritage Foundation, March 22, 2011
“Obamacare is Unconstitutional”
Cato Institute, March/April 2011
“This issue brief is a response to recent false attacks conservatives have made against the law. As we will demonstrate, the Affordable Care Act will create jobs, lower health care costs for families, help small businesses provide health insurance to their employees while maintaining the private sector’s key role in health insurance, and ensure we provide quality health care to all Americans at a lower cost to them and American taxpayers.”
Center for American Progress, March 21, 2011
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