Under Obamacare, Pennsylvania families have been forced to pay more for health care, and more than 800,000 Pennsylvania adults have received taxpayer-funded health coverage through a broken Medicaid system. Without Congressional action, states are unable to carry the full burden of Obamacare on their own. However, state policymakers can focus their own reform efforts on giving patients more control over health care and restoring Medicaid as a safety-net program. Access to health care should be measured, not by the number of those with insurance, but by the ability of individuals to independently secure the affordable, reliable care they deserve.

Health Care

Uncovering Cover All Kids

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 10, 2006

This past summer, state legislative leaders sent Governor Rendell a letter promising legislation by October authorizing the Governor’s “Cover All Kids” initiative. They included over $2 million in the state…

Commentary

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Health Care

Statement on Health Savings Accounts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 29, 2006

John Goodman of NCPA’s US Senate Testimony on Health Savings Accounts and the need for consumer driven health care.: “If health care really were free, people would have an…

Media

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Health Care

Opportunities for State Medicaid Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2006

New Report on state Medicaid reforms from the NCPA. “At the rate the program is growing, it is on a course to consume the entire budgets of state governments…

Media

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Health Care

States could be overwhelmed by health care burden

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2006

AP Story on how the cost of health care plans for retired state workers will be enormous across the nation, as preliminary numbers (required by new GASB rules) roll…

Media

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Health Care

Will Mandatory Health Insurance Work?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 6, 2006

NCPA Analysis of Health Insurance Mandates, such as the new Massachusetts law and proposals discussed at recent hearings in Pennsylvania. Bottom line: they won’t work, and they could drive…

Media

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Health Care

Tax Credits for Health Care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 31, 2006

While Pennsylvania lawmakers discuss mandating universal health care coverage, a Census Bureau report indicates fewer people are receiving health insurance from their employers, and more are paying for…

Media

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Health Care

Reveal Health Care Costs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 30, 2006

Health care pricing – the only good or service I can think of where you don’t learn the price until the bill comes – may be changing. USA Today…

Media

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Health Care

The Benefits of Health Savings Accounts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2006

Data from Americans for Tax Reform shows that since the creation of Health Savings Accounts (January 2004) the annual growth in health care costs slowed, and health care costs…

Media

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Health Care

Health Care for All?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 21, 2006

A Pennsylvania House committee will be holding hearings on universal health care (patterned after the Massachusetts plan passed earlier this year), reports the Patriot News. Read why…

Media

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Health Care

Health Care Mandates No Silver Bullet

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 21, 2006

In April 2006, Massachusetts enacted a dramatic health care reform package. Dubbed “Romneycare” after Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, this plan calls for reforms in the health insurance market, a mandate…

Commentary

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Health Care

The 1% Solution

  • Richard Dreyfuss
  • August 7, 2006

In the daily travails of state government, it appears the Senate is prepared to take action best described as “self-reform.” According to reports, beginning as early as September, employees of…

Commentary

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Health Care

Judge overturns Wal-Mart law

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 20, 2006

AP Story on the overturning of Maryland’s “Wal-Mart” Health Care law. This law would have required all businesses with 10,000 or more workers to spend at least 8% of…

Media

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Health Care

$1 Trillion Shock Awaits States, Local Governments

  • June 30, 2006

Joe Mysak asks on Bloomberg.com: “How much is it going to cost states and localities to pay for public employees’ health care and insurance after they retire? “Try between…

Media

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Health Care

Accounting rule could bust state budgets

  • June 28, 2006

Stateline.org highlights the coming fiscal crisis in the states when governments are required to recognize medical benefits liabilities. Excerpt… Just when states found some breathing room after years…

Media

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Health Care

Reduce Health Insurance Cost Through Competition

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 15, 2006

NCPA Analysis of how allowing insurers to offer healthcare coverage across state boundaries would reduce the cost of insurance. Examining only a handful of states, they find a discrepancy…

Media

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Health Care

Health care for everyone?

  • April 11, 2006

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney writes in today’s Wall Street Journal that he believes he’s found a way to provide health care for everyone, with “no new taxes, no employer…

Media

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Health Care

Health benefit costs

  • March 21, 2006

Th Bucks County Courier Times looks at the healthcare benefits crisis… Good health comes at hefty cost to taxpayers “Biting the bullet’ at public systems Public…

Media

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