Media -- NCPA in the News
Nov 18, 2009 |
Wellness Programs Unlikely to Cut Costs- Health Care NewsIllustrating the importance of wellness promotion in the debate over health care reform, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee approved a version of the health care reform bill that includes a provision allowing insurers expanded flexibility to increase premiums for individuals not meeting wellness standards. Although wellness programs garner bipartisan support, there are strong disagreements over how they should work, whether they should be crafted through legislation or by employers, and whether they really can have much of a positive effect on health care spending. |
Nov 18, 2009 |
Missouri Tort Reform Reverses Doctor Exodus- Health Care NewsIn a development suggesting medical malpractice reform may help alleviate doctor shortages, a package of reforms in Missouri signed in 2005 by then-governor Matt Blunt (R-MO) to curb junk medical lawsuits has created an environment more appealing to physicians. "We had widespread problems with practices recruiting before the reforms," said Tom Holloway, director of government relations for the Missouri State Medical Association. "Physicians didn’t want to come here and practice. Physicians wanted to leave the state." |
Nov 18, 2009 |
Medicaid Expansion Would Strain State Budgets- Health Care NewsState governments are bracing for the effects of the most-prominent congressional health care proposals, all of which would expand Medicaid and increase the burden on state funding. Sen. Max Baucus's (D-MT) plan would expand Medicaid eligibility to cover all U.S. citizens with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level starting in 2014. Federal taxpayers would be required to cover more of the cost than they currently do for newly eligible people-but less than 100 percent. States would have to make up the difference. |
Nov 13, 2009 |
Reid Weighs Rise in Medicare Tax- The Wall Street JournalSenate Majority Leader Harry Reid, seeking a new source of funding for the health-care overhaul legislation the Senate could begin debating next week, is considering a proposal to raise Medicare payroll taxes on couples who make more than $250,000 a year, according to people familiar with the discussions. |
Nov 10, 2009 |
Employer Taxes May Spook Senate on Health Care- Washington ExaminerAs the Senate prepares to vote on its version of health care legislation, one of the most contentious issues will be a provision requiring employers to provide insurance coverage. |
Nov 09, 2009 |
The Worst Bill Ever- Kaiser Health NewsPrior to last Saturday's vote, The Wall Street Journal aptly called the House bill "the worst bill ever." The bill is enormously expensive, but it is full of perverse incentives - an issue already plaguing our health care systems. |
Nov 04, 2009 |
Estate Tax Could be the Death of Small Business- Washington ExaminerAlthough health care is dominating the discussion in Washington and throughout the country, Congress will also be deciding on a number of other issues in November. For example, the proposed changes on the estate tax issue could have just as much of an effect on Americans and the economy. |
Oct 30, 2009 |
Bob McTeer: Market Maverick- Dallas Business JournalBob McTeer, 67, is not your average economist. Outspoken and humorous, he has a style that has garnered him speaking engagements across the country, the label of "maverick" within the Federal Reserve - where he served for 36 years - and his latest position as Distinguished Fellow of the National Center for Policy Analysis. |
Oct 15, 2009 |
When is it OK to tap the 401(k) - Detroit Free PressI heard from a family the other day that wondered about taking a loan out of the 401(k) -- or maybe a hardship withdrawal. |
Sep 25, 2009 |
Bad Medicine - The Wall Street JournalPresident Obama addressed Congress two weeks ago on the issue of health care, and on the same day an Associated Press GfK poll showed that the proportion of Americans who strongly approve of the way he is doing his job has fallen from 41% in December to 24% now. And the percentage of people who strongly disapprove of his performance has risen from 6% to 35%. |
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