Health Care News Nov. 15-19

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News
FRIDAY
Senators Agree on One-Month Extension of ‘Doc Fix’
The Senate on Thursday evening passed a one-month extension of the current Medicare physician payment rates in an effort to avert a 23 percent cut scheduled to take effect Dec. 1. Doctors have threatened to stop taking new Medicare patients if the cuts go through, and experts warned that the situation would undermine the health care program for 46 million elderly and disabled individuals.
Dems Lean on Republicans to Forgo Coverage
With repealing the health care overhaul law a priority for Republicans, some House Democrats want GOP congressional leaders to identify which of their members are willing to opt out of their congressional health insurance benefits, which are subsidized by taxpayers.
Private Medicare Plans Are Retrenching
Seniors enrolling in private Medicare policies starting this week are finding fewer options, as health insurers close down certain types of plans due to legislative changes and looming cuts to federal funding.

WEDNESDAY
GOP Waits on Obamacare Repeal
Congressional Republicans will hold off on trying to repeal the health care reform law until January when their hand will be strenghtened with a Hosue majority and greater numbers in the Senate.
Doctors: Congress should act fast on Medicare pay
Just back from recess, Congress is staring at a deadline that will result in a dramatic cut in Medicare payments to doctors if no action is taken.

TUESDAY
Health-care reform in GOP cross hairs
Republicans plan an all-out assault on the new health-care reform law, which they see as the biggest symbol of over-reach by Democrats. President Obama's veto pen is the first defense.

MONDAY
Approved Applications for Waiver of the Annual Limits Requirements of the PHS Act
Obama White House Hands Out 111 Obamacare Waivers.
Doctors brace for possible big Medicare pay cuts
Doctors have muddled through with temporary reprieves for years. This time, medical groups estimate that as many as two-thirds of doctors would stop taking new Medicare patients, throwing the health program for 46 million older and disabled people into turmoil just when the first baby boomers will become eligible.
Medicare in Hot Seat During Lame Duck
Lawmakers must address an expiring Medicare payment formula and will question the government program's administrator during the lame duck.
Navigating Through Medicare's Alphabet Soup
The so-called open enrollment period for Medicare starts Nov. 15, which means folks have the option of changing the type of plan they have. It can be daunting, particularly understanding the differences among plans A, B, C and D. But don’t let it stop you from investigating. Even if you feel comfortable with the plan you’re in, it is important to keep an open mind.

Economist Comments
FRIDAY
Rivlin-Domenici Put Medicare on a Weight Loss Diet
The latest entry in the deficit reduction sweepstakes from the Bipartisan Policy Center calls for a major overhaul of Medicare financing that would turn most of the program over to the private insurance industry and cap government support.

THURSDAY
Retirees Seeking Help With Medicare
Now 45 years old, Medicare has become too much of a good thing-;too big, too costly and far too complicated. In the past few years, we've seen the introduction of prescription drug coverage, the indexing of premiums for doctors' services and, this summer, a shake-up in supplemental insurance plans, known as Medigap.

WEDNESDAY
GOP ideas can fix health care reform
Americans made it clear in the midterm elections that they oppose a new policy that puts Washington largely in control of their health care. Almost 60 percent of voters, according to Rasmussen exit polling, support efforts to repeal and replace President Barack Obama’s new health care law.

TUESDAY
Debunking Richard Cohen: How Does the U.S. Health Care System Stack Up?
The U.S.'s focus on subsidizing health care for the elderly, for whom medical interventions are more frequent, costly, intensive, and arguably more beneficial, and to whose future health non-medical factors matter less on the margin.
Feulner: The only sure cure for Obamacare
Americans should fight for a full repeal of the unpopular reform law.

MONDAY
Reforming Health Care Online Chat
There is a lot that needs to be done but with the right education we can hold congress accountable and make sure they do what they were elected to do.

Blogs
FRIDAY
A Health Care Fix Bernie Sanders and Tim Pawlenty Can Both Love?
When the Affordable Care Act was but a glimmer in President Obama's eye, Wyden and Republican Sen. Bob Bennett, of Utah, introduced the Healthy Americans Act. This health care reform bill was widely praised by health policy experts and economists and had support from some key Republicans and Democrats.
Time to Clean Up the Medicare Doctor Payment Mess
Congress should fix the Medicare payment system—but not add one dime to the deficit in doing it. It could do this by sequestering a portion of the projected $575 billion in Medicare savings they just enacted in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to offset the additional costs—well over $200 billion in 10 years. Congress should also extend the fix for longer than one month and require that Congress enact a permanent fix to this problem during this temporary fix.

THURSDAY
Breaking Health Care Research: Repealing Obamacare and Getting Health Care Right
As newly elected lawmakers prepare for the hard work to be done in the next Congress, the future of the hugely unpopular Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act hangs in the balance.
In Health Care, No Free Lunch
The closer we get towards 2014, the more I am skeptical of the idea that this program is going to get more popular as it goes forward.  Would people like to be able to buy cheap insurance that offers them a lot of coverage and choices?  Of course.  But pooling only gets you so far in reducing costs. And it comes with a major downside:  in order to get the benefits, you have to force everyone to buy insurance.

WEDNESDAY
Who Should Control Your Health Care, You Or The Government?
We can have a bottom-up, not top-down, health care system where individuals have much greater personal choice because they would control their health care dollar. But that system can never come about under Obamacare. If the American people want to be the ones making their own health care decisions, then priority number one is the full repeal of Obamacare.
The Berwick Hearing’s Best Focus: Obamacare’s Effects on Doctors and Patients
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Donald Berwick this morning is expected to testify before Congress in his first appearance since a controversial recess appointment in June. He will talk before the Senate Finance Committee.
AARP Employees Face Premium Hikes As Result of New Law
Health care reform was supposed to “bend the cost curve” in health care and reduce the amount that American families pay in health care premiums.  This was the message the nation received from proponents of the new law, which included organizations such as AARP.

TUESDAY
Provenge Controversy Argues for Medicare Vouchers
If the government stayed out of health care, or just subsidized Medicare enrollees with a voucher, then both cancer survivors would get their wish.  Cancer Survivor #1 could purchase coverage for expensive cancer treatments.  Cancer Survivor #2, and millions like her, could buy lower-cost insurance and donate the savings to scholarships.

MONDAY
Texas Considers Opting out of Medicaid
With an increase in Medicaid enrollments due to health care reform on the horizon and an estimated $21 billion budget shortfall, Texas is considering opting out of Medicaid.
Health Care and Socialist Calculation
Pricing a medical service can be thought of as two problems. First, come up with the measurable unit of output. Second, set a price for that service.

Reports
THURSDAY
Preliminary Analysis of the Rivlin-Ryan Health Care Proposal
Congressman Ryan and his staff recently provided specifications for a proposal that would substantially change federal payments under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Although an extensive analysis of that proposal is not feasible in the time available, CBO has conducted a preliminary analysis of its major provisions—the results of which are summarized here.

WEDNESDAY
State Medicaid Reform After Obamacare
States should not remain silent or complacent about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), especially the law’s new Medicaid provisions. States should push back and forge ahead with transformative reforms that would fix the broken Medicaid program.