Health Care Overhaul Depends on States’ Insurance Exchanges

Health Care policy enacted by President Obama and the Congressional Budget Office predict that 24 million people will be insured by 2019. In order to successfully insure the American people, "insurance exchanges" that act as a shopping entities that organize a variety of plans suitable to different families are necessary. States such as Utah and Massachusetts have been the first to act upon such insurance exchanges. In Utah, employees of small businesses can go to a state Web site and sign up for insurance over the Internet, searching for the the plan that is most suitable. In Massachusetts, people typically file paper applications for subsidized coverage offered by one of five state-approved insurers. Massachusetts has had a government-run "insurance marketplace" for four years. The states along with federal government are working toward similar systems so consumers and employers can make knowledgeable and realistic comparisons. The White House has provided $49 million to states to help them set up exchanges.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/health/policy/24exchange.html?_r=1&ref=us&pagewanted=print

Drug Makers Accused of Ignoring Price Law

Drug manufacturers are required by law to provide the government with pricing data needed to calculate discounts on medications prescribed for poor people under Medicaid. This article reveals that most manufacturers do not always provide this information and as a result Medicaid pays a large percentage of the prescriptions. Under Obama's new health care law, this problem is expected to grow because it increases the discounts and the amount of people on Medicaid. The government will begin enforcing $10,000 a day penalty on manufacturers that refuse to follow regulations. This is a prime example of the three legged stool analogy. The mistakes of the market sector (manufacturers) Medicaid (the non profit sector).

-Victoire Iradukunda

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/us/03drug.html?ref=us

House Passes 9/11 Health Care Bill

On wednesday, the White House approved legislation to provide billions of dollars for medical treatment to rescue workers and residents of New York City. This is for people who suffered from illnesses from breathing in toxic fumes, dust and smoke at ground zero. The one concern of this bill was from the 157 Republicans and three democrats who raised concerns about the $7.4 billion cost of the program. This bill is going to provide $3.2 billion over the next eight years to monitor and treat injuries stemming from exposure to toxic dust and debris at ground zero. Of these expenses, New York City would be paying 10 percent of those health costs. There are nearly 60,000 people enrolled in a variety of health monitoring and treatment related to the 9/11 attacks, according to the sponsors of the bill. The federal government is the one providing most of this money for these health programs. Yes, this bill has been having a lot of discrepancies between parties; but should there be any questions at all? These 9/11 victims did not harm them selves are selectively put themselves in harms way, nor did anyone of them do anything to cause this. This is a major public issue and has been since 9/11. I believe that the government are the ones who should be responsible for these survivors well being, how could they turn there heads on there own no matter money, no matter what party. These 9/11 survivors deserve every bill in there favor and everything they can get to help them with matters regarding to the 9/11 tragedy.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/29/911-health-care-bill-passes/?hp

Insuring Young Adults

The health care reform is one policy process that has been on the public agenda for quite some time, and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. Obama, as well as a majority of US citizens, have a cognitive judgment towards this issue and know that it can be altered. This past Thursday, implementation of the new health insurance policy was enacted. This policy ensures that young Americans may stay on their parents’ insurance plans until they are 26 years of age. Whereas before they were dropped at 19, or 23 if they were full time students. These policy objectives have been clearly and consistently defined, making this a “top-down” implementation approach.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/insuring-young-adults/?scp=1&sq=health%20care%2026&st=cse

-Kelly Neary

Health Plan Won’t Fuel Big Spending, Report Says

The cost of health care is one of the leading issues in the country today, accounting for roughly 17.3 percent of our total economy in 2009. Under Obama's new Health Care Law, health spending will grow faster as more and more people gain coverage. Controlling this growth has become a major priority, as the government, employers, and American consumers struggle to keep up with the rising health care costs. The biggest change is expected in 2014, when most Americans will be required to have insurance. Only time will tell if this new law will have the negligible effects that are expected.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/09/health/policy/09health.html?ref=health

-Kelly Neary