Open season for individuals to sign up for a Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) healthcare plan started on November 1, 2017 and will close Friday, December 15, 2017. With the average premium for the second-lowest cost silver plan, often called the “benchmark” plan, increasing by 37 percent for a 27-year-old, it seems likely […]
The Clock is Delayed but Still Ticking for E-Cigarettes
The Family Smoking and Prevention Tobacco Control Act Tobacco became law in June 2009 and gave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of all tobacco products. On May 5, 2016, the FDA finalized a rule that brought all tobacco products under its authority, including Electronic Nicotine Delivery […]
Will the Individual Mandate Finally Be Repealed?
The House of Representatives and the Senate are vigorously working to pass a tax reform package before the end of the year. Both the House and Senate passed their budget resolutions with reconciliation instructions by Thanksgiving, a necessary step in order to craft their respective tax reform packages. The entire House passed their tax reform […]
Trump Administration to Allow States to Establish Work Requirements for Medicaid
Since its establishment in 1965, the federal government and the states have jointly administered Medicaid. The program’s characteristics and logistics vary from state to state, and there is always some give-and-take between the states and the feds. States want more flexibility; the federal government wants to make sure states are complying with the law. One […]
New CMS Rule Will Help Reduce Drug Costs
On Wednesday, November 1, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new rule that will lower costs to taxpayers and Medicare beneficiaries for certain outpatient pharmaceuticals purchased under the 340B drug discount program. According to CMS Administrator Seema Verma, “As part of the President’s priority to lower the cost of prescription […]
Maine’s Fiscal Future Tied to Medicaid Expansion
On November 7, 2017, Mainers will head to the polls to vote on four ballot measures, including Question 2, which would expand Medicaid in the state to cover able-bodied adults without children whose income is equal to or less than 138 percent of the federal poverty line. In an off-year election, not many will vote; […]
Another Dumb Idea from Democrats on Drug Costs
Today, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), held a press conference to engage in their usual screed against pharmaceutical companies and provide a “solution” to lower drug costs in Medicare Part D. Rep. […]
Will the Alexander-Murray Bill Prop Up or Make Big Changes to Obamacare?
Late Thursday night last week, President Trump announced his administration would stop providing Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSRs) payments to insurers. What are CSRs? They are subsidies, or reimbursements, given to insurers by federal taxpayers for issuing reduced deductibles and copayments to low-income individuals that participate in the Obamacare exchanges. CSRs are not payments given directly to […]
Cook County Soda Tax Repealed After Only Two Months in Effect
When politicians decide to tax something new, taxpayers rarely see the end of it. This adage is especially true of so-called “sin taxes,” levies on products like alcohol, tobacco, and, increasingly, soda. Those in government always appreciate more money, and politicians like beating up on unpopular industries. It’s a two-pronged argument: you shouldn’t be buying […]
President Trump’s Executive Order on Healthcare
Today, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO), “Promote Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States,” with the goals of bringing financial relief and more healthcare choices to millions of Americans. Since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, was signed into law, Americans have seen their health insurance options limited while […]