Monthly Archives: January 2009

Medicaid: poor care, rampant fraud

Posted on January 15, 2009 by Brian Schwartz

From a former senior official at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, published last week in the Wall Street Journal: Accumulating medical data shows that Medicaid recipients’ poor health outcomes aren’t just a function of their underlying medical problems, … Continue reading →

Posted in coverage isn't care, Medicaid/Medicare/SCHIP | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Model Federal Health Board on UK’s “NICE”?

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Brian Schwartz

Who decides? … In health care, the question is whether you, together with your doctor, will make your most personal and important health care decisions, or whether the government will make them for you. Government-run national health care systems are … Continue reading →

Posted in Policy - National, PPC, regulation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Universal healthcare and the waistline police

Posted on January 12, 2009 by Brian Schwartz

Imagine a country where the government regularly checks the waistlines of citizens over age 40. Anyone deemed too fat would be required to undergo diet counseling. Those who fail to lose sufficient weight could face further “reeducation” and their communities … Continue reading →

Posted in Policy - National, PPC | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Government insurance expansion wastes taxpayer dollars

Posted on January 9, 2009 by Brian Schwartz

The Denver Post published my letter on Thursday: New insurance law wastes taxpayer dollars Re: “The governor’s first two years; Two views of his energy level,” Jan. 4 Denver & The West story. The Post reports that Gov. Bill Ritter … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado health care, Medicaid/Medicare/SCHIP, PPC | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Cutting tax rates would fund charitable programs to replace government charities

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Brian Schwartz

From the Pacific Research Institute: In 2005, Americans contributed $48 billion to health and social services via individual donations, as well as through foundations and corporations. Philanthropic giving is insensitive to tax rates, constantly hovering around two percent of income … Continue reading →

Posted in charity, Medicaid/Medicare/SCHIP, PPC | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Three health care proposals to oppose

Posted on January 5, 2009 by Brian Schwartz

Michael Cannon writes in the Washington Times that do avoid disastrous health care reform, we must oppose: Government-run health care for the middle class (which Obama has proposed) mandatory insurance insurance price controls (e.g., community rating) On point 1, Cannon … Continue reading →

Posted in Medicaid/Medicare/SCHIP, PPC | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Federal Health Board could extend government-controlled insurance

Posted on January 2, 2009 by Brian Schwartz

Tom Daschle’s proposed Federal Health Board could regulate health insurance companies such that they are effectively all selling the same government-controlled product.  Consider the following from Robert E. Moffit: While the health board decisions would initially affect enrollees in government … Continue reading →

Posted in Policy - National, PPC, regulation | Tagged , | Leave a comment