According to the Small Business Act of 1958, “a small-business concern … shall be deemed to be one that is … independently owned and operated and which is not dominant in its field of operation.” Under the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 13, Chapter 1, Section 121.105, “a business concern eligible for assistance from SBA as a small business is a business entity organized for profit, with a place of business located in the United States, and which operates primarily within the United States or which makes a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor.”
Our Constitution Continues to Dissolve
On Thursday, June 25, the Constitution and our tripartite system of government took a major hit. The Supreme Court, in a 6 to 3 opinion, ruled against the plaintiffs in King v Burwell, a lawsuit concerning who was entitled to taxpayer-funded subsidies in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) better known as ObamaCare. You may recall […]
A Positive Start to Repeal the Medical Device Tax
On Thursday, June 18, the House of Representatives voted to repeal the 2.3 percent excise tax on total sales for certain medical devices that was created in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The legislation, H.R. 160, entitled the “Protect Medical Innovation Act,” passed by a vote of 280 to 140. All the Republicans and 46 […]
Up, Up and Away
During both of his two campaigns and the 2009 debate over healthcare reform, President Obama often stated that his plan would cut the average premium of a typical family by $2,500 per year. But not surprisingly, prices are instead going in the opposite and wrong direction. As Jed Graham blared in his May 18, 2015 Investor’s Business Daily column, “ObamaCare Premium Increases Next Year May Shock You.”
Why is FOX Business News Pushing Price Controls?
It was the headline on the FOX Business News April 27 article that captured my attention. It said, “More Government Waste Found at Medicare.” I thought, well, what else is new, it’s pretty much a government-run program where waste and fraud is rampant. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimated it was about $50 […]
A Disappointing Vote but Not Unexpected
Senator David Vitter (R-La.) is on a mission.
CO-OPs: Another ObamaCare Catastrophe
On March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), better known as ObamaCare, was signed into law. By the end of 2013, millions of Americans had lost the healthcare plan they liked and were forced to accept health insurance plans with mandated benefits they did not need or want. Their premiums increased by an average of 49 percent from 2013 to 2014. In November 2014, the Obama administration released data that showed premium rates would go up again in 2015, by as much as 20 percent, for those purchasing insurance under ObamaCare unless they switched plans.
Gold, Silver, Bronze (oh, Platinum too)
In years past, when people heard the terms Gold, Silver, Bronze, they thought about the Olympic medals. Now, they likely think of ObamaCare with its metallic collection of expensive healthcare plans of Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
340B Drug Discount Program Finally Gets a Congressional Hearing
House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health holds first hearing on the 340B drug discount program since 2005.
King v. Burwell: Judicial Branch Should Judge, Not Legislate
On Wednesday, March 4, 2015, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments to King v. Burwell. It is one of four lawsuits that challenge the IRS’s regulation that allows subsidies to assist people to purchase health insurance in Federally-facilitated Exchanges under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), better known as ObamaCare. The plaintiffs argued that the plain language of the law only allows subsidies to assist people in an Exchange “established by a State” while the Obama administration is arguing the IRS was correct when it decided to provide subsidies for enrollees in both types of Exchanges. The Exchanges are the on-line marketplaces where people can shop and purchase health insurance. The Supreme Court heard the case because there have been conflicting rulings within the lower courts as to whether the IRS acted legally.