Monthly Archive: February 2019
CNBC: Here’s What’s in the House Democrats sweeping ‘Medicare-for-all’ bill
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/27/democrat-pramila-jayapal-introduces-medicare-for-all-health-care-bill.html
More than 100 House Democrats to unveil ‘battle-ready’ Medicare-for-all plan as 2020 election looms
https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2019/02/26/more-than-house-democrats-back-medicare-all-plan-presidential-candidates-spar-over-health-care/?utm_term=.8204e2d88e92
House Democrats to release ‘Medicare for All’ bill — without a price tag
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/26/house-democrats-medicare-for-all-1189139
Pew to End Phone Based Polling, Moving Online — Only 6% Answer Phone Polls
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/27/phone-polling-crisis-1191637
Health savings accounts are good for employers, too
https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2019/02/25/health-savings-accounts-are-good-for-employers-too.html
Health and Insurance Industries Mobilize Dem Lobbyists to Kill ‘Medicare for All’
As ‘Medicare For All’ Gains Popularity, Health Industry Quietly Assembles Small Army Of Lobbyists To Try To Kill It
CMS: Flood of Baby Boomers to Drive Growth in U.S. Health Spending, Anticipated to reach $6 trillion Annually by 2027
https://www.medpagetoday.com/practicemanagement/reimbursement/78137
Sanders Raises $10 million — nearly 40 percent from email addresses that have never given before
NEWS: Bernie Sanders has raised $10 million from his presidential campaign in less than a week Two big stats: — 359,914 total donors— 38.76% of donations came from NEW email addresses that hadn't previously...
AOC Wonders about the Moral Question of Having Children
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/02/25/alexandria_ocasio-cortez_ponders_moral_climate_change_question_is_it_still_okay_to_have_children.html
Within the first 24 hours of Bernie Sanders announcing his candidacy, his campaign raised $6 million from 220,000 donors
https://www.salon.com/2019/02/24/2020-dems-cant-tell-bernie-to-lay-down-and-die-when-its-his-economic-agenda-they-are-hawking/
AOC to Critics: I am In the Ring, How About You? So Shut Up, Until You Step Up
“And I’m like, ‘You try. You do it. Cuz you’re not. Cuz you’re not. So, until you do it, I’m the boss.’ How about that?‘” AOC’s statement above reminded me of this quote by...
Furious Donna Brazile on Jussie Smollett: “He wanted a raise, he wanted a raise, he wanted a raise”
Bill Maher Slams Jussie Smollett As A Gift To Fox News (And A Lousy Actor) “He wanted a raise, he wanted a raise, he wanted a raise,” a furious Brazile said. “No one wants to...
Charles Barkley Tells Smollett: “if you are going to commit a crime, don’t write a check”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/charles-barkley-went-off-on-empire-star-jussie-smollett-get-cash-man/
Jussie Smollett’s alleged hoax got more media attention than my son, who was shot and killed in Chicago
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jussie-smolletts-alleged-hoax-got-more-media-attention-than-my-son-who-was-shot-and-killed-in-chicago
“Police resources were used for an awful hoax instead of an unsolved case like Jeremy’s.”
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/chicagoans-turn-on-smollett-claim-hes-full-of-sht-hurting-real-victims
A Government report reveals CBO was scandalously off in Obamacare estimates
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/government-report-reveals-cbo-was-was-scandalously-off-in-obamacare-estimates
Did Jussie Smollett’s Contract with Empire include Financial Incentives for Social Media and News Hits that Included his Name and the word Empire?
As in, do media and social media hits that included the words Smollett and Empire mean financial rewards or better salary negotiations for Smollett? It would explain the perverse incentives for Jussie Smollett’s MAGA...
Coalition Letter to Senate Chairman of the Budget Committee Asks for New CBO Director
https://www.americancommitment.org/content/coalition-urges-chairman-mike-enzi-institute-extensive-cbo-reform
Main Stream Media Coverage Decisions about Jussie Smollett has Ended their Convening Authority to Label Someone or Some Action as Racist
The MSM’s tepid, weak, pathetic, non-existent and feet-dragging-reluctant coverage of the Jussie Smollett lie to paint Trump supporters as racist homophobes has removed their ability, their self-assumed “moral authority” to declare any future action...
Jussie Smollett’s Epic FAIL or 15 Reasons Why Hollywood Actors and Singers Should Not Attempt Propaganda Operations
Let us count the ways that Jussie Smollett failed, or how Jussie Smollett’s attempted propaganda operation did exactly the opposite of everything he intended: He betrayed his African American heritage. By faking a hate...
Editorial: The joy of outrage
https://www.richmond.com/opinion/our-opinion/editorial-the-joy-of-outrage/article_76a1de18-0d87-583d-b4e6-cb2d678ea706.html
For the Main Stream Media, it Used to be Blame America First, Now it’s Blame White Males First
Either the media set up internal protocols so they aren’t duped by fake hate crimes, — Jussie Smollett and Nathan Phillips — or they will elect Trump and whoever’s next by permanently alienating the...
HSAs are a triple tax break that can help fast track retirement savings
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2019/02/17/retirement-why-hsas-triple-tax-break/2868406002/
The Future of Health Care Is Innovation, Not Government Control
https://reason.com/archives/2019/02/14/the-future-of-health-care-is-innovation
Morris: Your tax refund provides a great opportunity. Don’t blow it.
http://www.voicenews.com/life/ken-morris-your-tax-refund-provides-a-great-opportunity-don/article_8092ee49-b3ab-5495-90a4-186f26d63489.html
Seema Verma: Americans have the right to know their health care and hospital costs
Seema Verma: Americans have the right to know their health care and hospital costs
Here’s what an ‘HSA’ is — and why it’s the ideal wealth-building tool for millennials
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/14/heres-why-an-hsa-is-the-ideal-wealth-building-tool-for-millennials.html
Wellness Program Russian Style: Overweight? You will be fined.
Russia May Fine Citizens For Being Overweight
Social Security Matters: Can HSA be Used While on Medicare?
https://surfky.com/index.php/ohio/179-news/kentucky/136933-social-security-matters-can-hsa-be-used-while-on-medicare
Money Matters: Health savings accounts
https://www.wmur.com/article/money-matters-health-savings-accounts/26344606
Kevin McCarthy blames midterm losses on GOP push to roll back health insurance protections
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-kevin-mccarthy-republicans-health-care-20190212-story.html
Mango: Administration will push harder for health care price transparency
https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2019/02/12/mango-administration-will-push-harder-for-health.html
Senators Request Payer, Provider Data on Surprise Medical Billing
https://healthpayerintelligence.com/news/senators-request-payer-provider-data-on-surprise-medical-billing
Time to Replace CBO with AI?
https://www.wired.com/story/this-robot-debates-and-cracks-jokes-but-its-still-a-toaster/?CNDID=54307631&CNDID=54307631&bxid=MjgwOTQxOTcyNzMzS0&hasha=a6e57b4fc39cda4f066226ab9a88c3bd&hashb=a2c998a13111bd4b145a2d23ecd612d7e5211f4d&mbid=nl_021319_daily_list1_p3&source=DAILY_NEWSLETTER&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRED%20NL%20021319%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl
Measure seeks to expand senior access to health savings account
Measure seeks to expand senior access to health savings account
UCHealth Takes Price Transparency to the Next Level
https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/finance/uchealths-revenue-cycle-takes-price-transparency-next-level
Why patience for data exchange has run out for healthcare
https://www.healthdatamanagement.com/opinion/why-patience-has-run-out-with-the-healthcare-industry
Hospitals and physicians object to price transparency bill
Hospitals and physicians object to price transparency bill
Democrats are the Ones Complaining About ObamaCare
https://www.yahoo.com/news/democrats-ones-complaining-obamacare-110003232.html
Experts: Hospital charges can be confusing, but necessary
https://www.theintell.com/news/20190208/experts-hospital-charges-can-be-confusing-but-necessary
This Retirement Account Can Be Better Than a 401(k) and an IRA
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/retirement-account-better-401-k-234500592.html
Plan Sponsor Council of America Launches First Annual HSA Benchmark Survey
PSCA Launches First Annual HSA Benchmarking Survey
Patients will have drug price transparency soon: HHS Secretary Alex Azar
https://www.foxbusiness.com/healthcare/patients-will-have-drug-price-transparency-soon-hhs-secretary-alex-azar
Health 202: Association health plans expanded under Trump look promising so far
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-health-202/2019/01/30/the-health-202-association-health-plans-expanded-under-trump-look-promising-so-far/5c50ba751b326b29c3778d05/?mc_cid=faff755f73&mc_eid=dff775d8ae&noredirect=on&utm_campaign=faff755f73-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_12_18_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Galen%20Email%20Alerts%20%26%20AHC&utm_term=.724aadad5b32
Democrats’ confused, and confusing, Medicare-for-all debate: Medicare-for-all doesn’t mean what it sounds like it means
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/2/5/18209945/medicare-for-all-bernie-sanders-kamala-harris-cory-booker-single-payer
Dad travels to Canada for son’s medicine that would cost $53K in U.S.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/health-care-costs-dad-travels-to-canada-for-sons-medicine-that-would-cost-53k-in-us/
Trump Highlights Health Agenda And Vows To Lower ‘Unfair’ Drug Prices
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/02/06/691948681/trump-highlights-health-agenda-and-vows-to-lower-unfair-drug-prices
Trump highlights health agenda with vow to lower ‘unfair’ drug prices
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/trump-highlights-health-agenda-vow-lower-unfair-drug-prices-n968281
WENDELL PRIMUS –TOP NANCY PELOSI AIDE –PRIVATELY TELLS INSURANCE EXECUTIVES NOT TO WORRY ABOUT DEMOCRATS PUSHING “MEDICARE FOR ALL”
https://theintercept.com/2019/02/05/nancy-pelosi-medicare-for-all/
The Wendell Primus Powerpoint Presentation to Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan Executives
http://www.hsacoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Wendell-Primus-PPT.pdf
‘There Is Going to Be a War Within the Party. We Are Going to Lean Into It.’
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/02/04/the-insurgents-behind-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-224542
Federal requirement for hospitals to post prices online confusing to consumers
https://www.tribdem.com/news/federal-requirement-for-hospitals-to-post-prices-online-confusing-to/article_792d2dee-276c-11e9-9fe8-470528eaaa56.html
Chargemasters full of ‘medical gobbledygook’ — New online hospital charges ‘overwhelming,’ confusing
https://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/chargemasters-full-of-medical-gobbledygook/article_496c3575-6df4-5b95-a714-8b56ee1e493f.html
Hebert’s Money Sense: Health Savings Accounts for people enrolled in high-deductible plans
https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/money_sense/marc-hebert-s-money-sense-health-savings-accounts-for-people/article_57512799-a1c7-5df4-becd-696a7b6c6998.html
Lifting the veil on prices is key to lowering healthcare costs
https://www.healthexec.com/topics/health-it/price-transparency-key-lower-healthcare-costs
Medicare chief tells Philly conference: Patients must be part of controlling health care costs
http://www.philly.com/health/cms-health-care-price-transparency-seema-verma-wharton-20190201.html
NTMC misses Fed deadline to post their prices online
https://www.gainesvilleregister.com/news/local_news/ntmc-misses-deadline-to-post-price-list/article_c9123876-267d-11e9-9df1-d7a48707f724.html
Hospital posts its prices online
https://www.enewscourier.com/news/local_news/hospital-prices-now-available-online/article_63ced6a6-2680-11e9-b39d-df314575c671.html
Letter: Consumers need more clarity, transparency on hospital costs
https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/opinion/2019/02/02/letter-hospitals-must-offer-more-clarity-transparency-prices/2731263002/
MEDICAL COSTS ARE CLEARLY UNCLEAR
https://www.cdapress.com/local_news/20190201/medical_costs_clearly_unclear
Mitch Albom: Tom Brady is the G.O.A.T. we never saw coming
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/mitch-albom/2019/02/03/mitch-albom-tom-brady-2019-super-bowl/2754973002/
Appropriation Hearing: Oversight Hearing: Impact of the Administration’s Policies Affecting the Affordable Care Act
https://docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventID=108858
E&C Hearing: Examining Threats to Workers with Preexisting Conditions
https://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/examining-threats-to-workers-with-preexisting-conditions
E&C Health Subcommittee Announces Hearing on Texas v. United States & Its Impact on People’s Health Care
https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/Hearing%20Announcement%20ACA%20Lawsuit.pdf
AOC’s Take Down of Lieberman Made Biden Old
Even though there is probably some policy I agree with AOC about (I’m not sure what it is) I have tremendous respect for what she has done in her short time on the national...