Healthcare & Policy News
Reporting on health care policy, insurance coverage, and federal health programs. Includes news updates and conservative commentary from The Daily Signal.
-
- Opinion
No, Being a Climate Change Skeptic Isn’t Like Fearing Vaccines
National Geographic’s latest cover story generated lots of attention for comparing climate change skeptics to those who fear vaccinations, disbelieve NASA’s moon landing, and oppose water fluoridation. The author bemoans the fact that only 40 percent of Americans (according to Pew Research Center) “accept that human activity is the dominant cause of global warming,” asking how so…Stephen Moore -
- News
Obamacare a Factor in IHOP Owner’s Decision to Sell His 16 Restaurants
Four years ago, my reporting on Obamacare brought me to the city of Terre Haute, Ind. Located near the Illinois’ border, about an hour’s drive from Indianapolis, the city of 60,000 residents reminded me of the area where I grew up near Utica, N.Y. "The Affordable Care Act must be repealed," says @GovPenceIN It was…Robert B. Bluey -
- Opinion
What the Domino’s CEO Would Change on Taxes, Obamacare
Here’s a question that has been puzzling Patrick Doyle, the CEO of Domino’s, for months, as he puts it: “How do we list the calorie content of our pizzas on a menu when we have 34 million different variations of pizza?” The new menu labeling law, a creation of the Affordable Care Act, could require his company…Stephen Moore -
- Opinion
Why Expanding Medicaid Isn’t Compassionate
We’ve heard a lot about how Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion will be costly to states in the long run. Yet this hasn’t stopped some governors, who know that taking more money from the federal government makes their budgets look good (in the short term), while making themselves appear compassionate. But we haven’t heard enough about how…Jim DeMint -
- Opinion
How Liberal Senators Are Trying to Make a Bipartisan Abortion Measure Controversial
Amid the usual partisan infighting in Washington, there is one policy that for decades has won the approval of liberals and conservatives alike: prohibiting federal dollars from paying for abortions. But now, a handful of liberal senators are backtracking on that commonsense and (up until this week) uncontroversial funding restriction. The occasion on which they’ve…Sarah Torre -
- News
House Conservatives Cite Obamacare Repeal as ‘Motivating Reason’ for Supporting GOP Budget
As budget negotiations begin this week, conservatives in the House of Representatives say they will only support a fiscal blueprint that allows for a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price of Georgia released the Republican Party’s 10-year budget proposal, “A Balanced Budget for a Stronger America,” today. The proposal…Melissa Quinn -
- Opinion
Why Is the Pro-Abortion Lobby Preventing an Anti-Human Trafficking Bill From Passing?
Let’s be clear, this bill is about helping victims of human trafficking.Genevieve Wood -
- News
West Virginia Overrides Governor’s Veto, Passes Law Banning Abortion After 20 Weeks
The West Virginia legislature has passed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, overriding the governor’s veto of the legislation. On Friday, the West Virginia state Senate voted 27 to 5 to authorize House Bill 2568. According to the Associated Press, a simple majority is all that is needed to override a gubernatorial veto on matters…Kate Scanlon -
- News
How Incorrect Obamacare Tax Forms Could Impact Students Applying for Financial Aid
Erroneous information given to Affordable Care Act enrollees on a crucial form needed to file tax returns will delay refunds for tens of thousands of Americans. Now, students applying for federal and state financial aid can feel the effects of the government’s mistake, too. The IRS announced last month that close to 1 million HealthCare.gov customers…Melissa Quinn -
- Opinion
What’s Behind the Congressional Budget Office’s Revised Obamacare Cost Estimates?
Yes, the March update to the Congressional Budget Office’s January 2015 estimates of the cost of Obamacare over the next decade contains some good news—overall projected costs have gone down. But, as the report explains, although CBO has changed many of its projections for Obamacare, little of the difference is actually attributable to Obamacare. Instead,…Alyene Senger -
- Opinion
Why We’re Still Talking about Obamacare
I’ll be on “Real Time with Bill Maher” on Friday at 10 p.m. EST. One of the topics we will likely discuss is the Obamacare case King v. Burwell heard before the Supreme Court this week. One of the other panelists on the show is former Obama advisor David Axelrod. I have a feeling he…Genevieve Wood -
- News
IRS Official Warns That ‘Thousands’ of Obamacare Enrollees Could See Delay in Tax Refunds
The taxpayers’ leading voice at the Internal Revenue Service is warning that the tax agency is delaying refunds for “tens of thousands” of Affordable Care Act enrollees because it’s missing data from state-run health insurance exchanges. National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson spoke about the delays at the American Payroll Association’s Capital Summit in Washington, D.C….Melissa Quinn -
- News
Obamacare Supporters, Critics Clash at Supreme Court Over Law’s Subsidies
The highly anticipated case that could topple the Affordable Care Act reached the Supreme Court Wednesday, and already onlookers are attempting to deconstruct the justices’ inquiries in an effort to predict how the court will rule. The nine justices met in the marble courthouse to hear oral arguments in King v. Burwell, opting to extend…Melissa Quinn -
- News
In Under 3 Minutes, Watch Instant Analysis on Today’s Oral Arguments in Obamacare Supreme Court Case
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the highly anticipated case King v. Burwell. After the 85-minute long arguments, Hans von Spakovsky, senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation, spoke to The Daily Signal on the steps of the high court to provide an analysis of the proceedings. The Supreme Court is examining…Melissa Quinn -
- Opinion
The Damaging Effects of Obamacare
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in the case of King v. Burwell—a challenge to an IRS rule under Obamacare that provides the payment of premium subsidies to individuals enrolled in the federal exchange. Obamacare’s advocates have made various claims about the harm that would supposedly occur if the court were to find for…Alyene Senger -
- News
How Will Congress Respond to Supreme Court Ruling on Obamacare Subsidies?
At 10 a.m. tomorrow, the nine U.S. Supreme Court justices will take their places on the bench in the marble temple to hear oral arguments in the highly anticipated case King v. Burwell. Millions of Americans will have to wait several months before the high court decides the future of the subsidies available under the…Melissa Quinn -
- News
As Supreme Court Prepares to Hear New Obamacare Case, One Senator Is Preparing a Plan B
In just one week, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on a case that could greatly affect the future of the Affordable Care Act. In anticipation of the high court’s ruling in King v. Burwell, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said he plans to reveal a “backup plan” should the justices rule that the health care…Melissa Quinn -
- News
Yes, It’s Legal for the Obama Administration to Create a Special Enrollment Period for Obamacare
The Obama administration is exploring whether to add a special enrollment period under Obamacare for those who are unaware of the fine for not having insurance. However, following a long list of unilateral changes the White House has made to the law since its inception, some are questioning whether the administration has the legal authority…Melissa Quinn -
- News
How One Nebraska Woman Lost Her Health Insurance Three Times Under Obamacare
Dec. 26, 2014, was strike three for Pamela Weldin. The day after Christmas, Weldin, of Minatare, Neb., had logged on to Facebook to find a message from a friend of hers. Included in the note was a link to an article from the Omaha World-Herald announcing that CoOportunity Health, a nonprofit health insurance company offering plans…Melissa Quinn -
- Opinion
Appeals Court Rules Against Geneva College in Obamacare Abortion Drug Case
Chalk up another setback for religious freedom. Earlier this week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled against Geneva College and other non-profit religious employers in their challenge to the Obamacare mandate that forces employers to provide healthcare coverage of abortion-inducing drugs and devices. You don’t have to agree with Geneva College…Elizabeth Slattery