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

State-Run Health Exchanges: A Terrible Track Record

  • James Paul
  • May 14, 2015

Governor Wolf is taking a big risk. His administration is preparing a Pennsylvania-operated Obamacare exchange if exchange subsidies from the federal exchange, or healthcare.gov, are ruled illegal by the…

Media

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Health Care

State Health Care Exchange: A Dangerous Contingency Plan

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 8, 2015

A week ago Governor Wolf announced his plan to create a state-based health care exchange if the U.S. Supreme Court nixes taxpayer subsidies to insurance companies through the federal…

Media

Read More: State Health Care Exchange: A Dangerous Contingency Plan

Health Care

Unlike Medicaid, Charity Clinics Lead to Independence

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 29, 2015

This week marks the beginning of Pennsylvania’s transition from Healthy PA to full Medicaid expansion. Over 100,000 beneficiaries were transferred to the traditional one-size-fits-all healthcare plan known for limited…

Media

Read More: Unlike Medicaid, Charity Clinics Lead to Independence

Health Care

Judge Halts Stealth Unionization Scheme

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 23, 2015

A Commonwealth Court judge has issued a preliminary injunction to stop full enforcement of Gov. Tom Wolf's executive order to stealthily unionize home healthcare workers. For folks like…

Media

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Health Care

Five Years After Obamacare Charity Care Demand Soars

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 23, 2015

Five years later, the promises of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ring hollow for too many Pennsylvanians. The law’s numerous mandates and regulations continue to drive up the cost of…

Media

Read More: Five Years After Obamacare Charity Care Demand Soars

Health Care

Beyond Medicaid Expansion: Helping the Poor

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 10, 2015

Yesterday’s announcement that Healthy PA will be rolled back in favor of full-scale Medicaid expansion misses the point. Instead of unraveling the few positive reforms incoporated in the original Medicaid waiver,…

Media

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Health Care

Breaking Out of the Fortress & Into the Frontier

  • James Paul
  • January 30, 2015

What is the ultimate goal of health care reform? Is it to provide all Americans with insurance cards? Or is it to enhance access to quality care at more affordable…

Media

Read More: Breaking Out of the Fortress & Into the Frontier

Health Care

Obamacare Failing Big Time

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 9, 2015

According to John Micek’s reading of a recent Gallup poll on health insurance, Obamacare is “working after all.” In reality, though, Gallup’s findings indicate that the health care overhaul…

Media

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Health Care

New Wave of Obamacare Price Hikes Arrives

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 17, 2014

Regina Weinhardt handles benefits for her family’s plumbing business in Delaware County. In business since 1962, providing health care to their employees has always been a priority, “My father started…

Media

Read More: New Wave of Obamacare Price Hikes Arrives

Health Care

Bracing for Obamacare Rate Hikes

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 12, 2014

Only three days until the Obamacare exchanges open for 2015 enrollment. Last Sunday, the federal government released preliminary rates for window shopping. We compared the cheapest insurance plans in…

Media

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Health Care

ACA Delivers Low-Quality, High Cost Care

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 30, 2014

The federal government’s health care overhaul is quickly becoming “Medicaid for all.” The more we learn about the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) newly insured population, the clearer it becomes that…

Media

Read More: ACA Delivers Low-Quality, High Cost Care

Health Care

Huge Premium Hikes Expected in PA Exchange

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 24, 2014

Premiums are poised to rise significantly in Pennsylvania in year two of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Three insurers announced this week that they are seeking premium increases of…

Media

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Health Care

Audio: Healthcare Solutions Week—What Comes After Obamacare?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 16, 2014

Four years after the passage of the Affordable Care Act, few think healthcare is more affordable. Premiums and out-of-pocket costs are rising, a new wave of Pennsylvanians are losing their…

Media

Read More: Audio: Healthcare Solutions Week—What Comes After Obamacare?

Health Care

Obamacare’s Broken Promises Leave Pennsylvanians Looking for Solutions

  • October 14, 2014

Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Obamacare’s Broken Promises Leave Pennsylvanians Looking for Solutions Healthcare Solutions Week Highlights Genuine Fixes Last year’s disastrous Obamacare rollout had serious consequences. Here…

Press Release

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Health Care

Access to Care Still a Burden to Bear

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 8, 2014

Need to see a dermatologist in Philadelphia? If you are on Medicaid you’ll have to wait a staggering 49 days, according to recent Merritt Hawkins survey. This is no…

Media

Read More: Access to Care Still a Burden to Bear

Health Care

When the Poorest Fall Through

  • Priya Brannick
  • October 6, 2014

On a Friday near noon, on the top floor of Christ Lutheran Church, John Kiessling has patients occupying both chairs at his charity dental clinic.  He buzzes from one to…

Media

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Health Care

Solving Health Care Without Obamacare Headaches

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2014

Montana’s Rib and Chop House in the Pittsburgh area is taking an innovative approach to providing health care coverage to employees, in spite of Obamacare. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports…

Media

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Health Care

Healthy PA Approved, but Still Room to Improve

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 29, 2014

On Thursday, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced approval of the Healthy PA waiver, including a new private coverage option. But the approved waiver severely limited…

Media

Read More: Healthy PA Approved, but Still Room to Improve

Health Care

Falling Through the Cracks in Obamacare

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 26, 2014

Mark Ferkler is a Delaware County resident in his mid-thirties. He’s healthy, gainfully employed and now, thanks to Obamacare, is newly uninsured. Yes, you read that right — uninsured. Despite…

Commentary

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