An earlier post detailed the recent step backwards President Obama took by allowing states to apply for waivers to the Affordable Care Act. These waivers would allow states to drop the mandate for individual health insurance as long as an effective, affordable alternative was reached.
Since the last post, there have been a number of reactions to President Obama's decision. A recent NY Times Article shows that along with Maine, five other states have applied for these waivers including Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Nevada and New Hampshire.
Instead of praising President Obama for his decision, many Republicans are labeling it as a sign of weakness in the law. They argue that if the law was a good law, it would need no waivers. Many see the law as pointless if there will be so many waivers allowed.
Is providing waivers an admission that health care reform is weak? Is this proof that the Affordable Care Act is not perfect?
Showing posts with label Affordable Care Act. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Affordable Care Act. Show all posts
Monday, March 21, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Ignorance and Healthcare
The Affordable Care Act (health care reform) has generated an overwhelming amount of controversy. Political insults have been traded all amidst rumors of socialism and "government death panels."
Everyone is a critic. But when we open our mouths to talk about health care reform do we know what we are talking about? It would appear that an alarming amount of people don't. A professor recently passed a report along to me from the Kaiser Family Foundation on America's knowledge of the health care reform bill. The report surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,207 adults and asked them questions about the elements of the Affordable Care Act. Below I've attached a chart with the results of this study.
Notice the percentage of wrong answers to questions on some very important elements of the act. A staggering 40 percent of people surveyed actually believe the U.S. government has the ability to make end of life decisions for patients. 65 percent wrongfully believe that all U.S. businesses will be required to provide health care insurance to employees. These aren't numbers that can be brushed aside. The Affordable Care Act is one of the most significant pieces of legislation passed in years, and a good portion of the citizens it applies to have no idea what it says.
I am of the belief that everyone is entitled to an opinion, as long as its a rational one. Some good questions: Why do you think there is such a disconnect here? Whose job is it to educate the American public on such important legislation? Let's hear it.
Everyone is a critic. But when we open our mouths to talk about health care reform do we know what we are talking about? It would appear that an alarming amount of people don't. A professor recently passed a report along to me from the Kaiser Family Foundation on America's knowledge of the health care reform bill. The report surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,207 adults and asked them questions about the elements of the Affordable Care Act. Below I've attached a chart with the results of this study.
Notice the percentage of wrong answers to questions on some very important elements of the act. A staggering 40 percent of people surveyed actually believe the U.S. government has the ability to make end of life decisions for patients. 65 percent wrongfully believe that all U.S. businesses will be required to provide health care insurance to employees. These aren't numbers that can be brushed aside. The Affordable Care Act is one of the most significant pieces of legislation passed in years, and a good portion of the citizens it applies to have no idea what it says.
I am of the belief that everyone is entitled to an opinion, as long as its a rational one. Some good questions: Why do you think there is such a disconnect here? Whose job is it to educate the American public on such important legislation? Let's hear it.
Health Care Act in Danger
On Monday January 31, the Affordable Care Act which many know as "the health care reform bill" was ruled unconstitutional for the second time since appeals began.
The controversial bill has now been upheld twice and ruled unconstitutional twice by appeal courts in Virginia, Florida and Michigan. This article by The New York Times explains that Judge Roger Vinson of The Federal District Court in Pensacola Florida labeled the bill unconstitutional on the grounds that it gives congress too much authority over commerce. The Affordable Care Act mandates that Americans must purchase commercial health insurance by 2014 or face penalties. Judge Vinson ruled that it is unconstitutional to force citizens to engage in commerce, saying, “If Congress can penalize a passive individual for failing to engage in commerce, the enumeration of powers in the Constitution would have been in vain."
The fact that Judge Vinson ruled against the bill is not as surprising as how strongly he ruled against it. While the previous rejection of the bill called for changes in parts of the act, Judge Vinson claims that the insurance mandate invalidates the entire bill. The insurance mandate is so ingrained in the other stipulations of the bill, Judge Vinson feels the entire reform must be ruled unconstitutional.
As the Affordable Care Act winds its way through the appeal system, the existence of the reform remains to be seen. Will parts of the bill be changed or will the entire reform be ruled unconstitutional? Should Congress have the right to mandate the purchase of health insurance? Or is that a decision best left to the free market?
As always, comments are welcome and appreciated. Let's hear it.
The controversial bill has now been upheld twice and ruled unconstitutional twice by appeal courts in Virginia, Florida and Michigan. This article by The New York Times explains that Judge Roger Vinson of The Federal District Court in Pensacola Florida labeled the bill unconstitutional on the grounds that it gives congress too much authority over commerce. The Affordable Care Act mandates that Americans must purchase commercial health insurance by 2014 or face penalties. Judge Vinson ruled that it is unconstitutional to force citizens to engage in commerce, saying, “If Congress can penalize a passive individual for failing to engage in commerce, the enumeration of powers in the Constitution would have been in vain."
The fact that Judge Vinson ruled against the bill is not as surprising as how strongly he ruled against it. While the previous rejection of the bill called for changes in parts of the act, Judge Vinson claims that the insurance mandate invalidates the entire bill. The insurance mandate is so ingrained in the other stipulations of the bill, Judge Vinson feels the entire reform must be ruled unconstitutional.
As the Affordable Care Act winds its way through the appeal system, the existence of the reform remains to be seen. Will parts of the bill be changed or will the entire reform be ruled unconstitutional? Should Congress have the right to mandate the purchase of health insurance? Or is that a decision best left to the free market?
As always, comments are welcome and appreciated. Let's hear it.
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