Big Tax Changes in the House GOP TrumpCare Plan Posted by Editor on March 11, 2017 in Healthcare 0 Comment “In addition to major revisions to Medicaid and other parts of the health care system, the American Health Care Act proposes several changes to tax law, including repealing nearly all ACA taxes, delaying implementation of the excise tax on high-cost health plans (the “Cadillac tax”), replacing the current premium tax credit with a new refundable health insurance credit, and enhancing Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Many of the provisions would repeal taxes on high-income households enacted during the Obama administration.”
GOP Tax Credits Would Make Health Insurance Far Less Affordable in High-Cost States Posted by Editor on March 11, 2017 in Healthcare 0 Comment “The losses would be larger for older and lower-income consumers, and lower-income consumers would also lose help with deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs. Consumers’ costs would probably increase even more than tax credits would fall, since the House plan would likely cause individual market premiums to rise.”
Medicare: GOP Repeal Bill Threatens Medicare Solvency to Cut Taxes for Wealthy Posted by Editor on March 11, 2017 in Healthcare 0 Comment “The repeal of the additional 0.9 percent payroll tax on high income earners will reduce the solvency of the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund by three years.”
Paying a Visit to the Doctor: Current Financial Protections for Medicare Patients Posted by Editor on March 11, 2017 in Healthcare 0 Comment “Under current law, Medicare has several financial protections in place that are designed to safeguard Medicare beneficiaries—seniors and people with permanent disabilities—from unexpected and confusing charges when they seek care from doctors and other practitioners. These protections include the participating provider program, limitations on balance billing, and conditions on private contracting.”
Medicare Under Attack by GOP: Backs “Balance Billing” for Medicare Patients Posted by Editor on March 11, 2017 in Healthcare 0 Comment “HHS Secretary Tom Price is backing legislation that will allow physicians to bill seniors for charges that are more than the rates approved by Medicare. He claims the move would draw more physicians to enroll in the program…Current law does not allow physicians participating in Medicare to bill patients more than the program’s payment rate for any service.”
House Republicans Would Let Employers Require Workers’ Genetic Test Results Posted by Editor on March 11, 2017 in Healthcare, Legislature 0 Comment “A little-noticed bill moving through Congress would allow companies to require employees to undergo genetic testing or risk paying a penalty of thousands of dollars, and would let employers see that genetic and other health information. Giving employers such power is now prohibited by legislation including the 2008 genetic privacy and nondiscrimination law known as GINA. The new bill gets around that landmark law by stating explicitly that GINA and other protections do not apply when genetic tests are part of a ‘workplace wellness’ program.”
5 Trump Cabinet Members Who’ve Made False Statements to Congress Posted by Editor on March 11, 2017 in Executive Branch 0 Comment “Attorney General Jeff Sessions isn’t alone.”
Meet the Hundreds of Officials Trump Has Quietly Installed Across the Government Posted by Editor on March 11, 2017 in Executive Branch 0 Comment “A Trump campaign aide who argues that Democrats committed “ethnic cleansing” in a plot to “liquidate” the white working class. A former reality show contestant whose study of societal collapse inspired him to invent a bow-and-arrow-cum-survivalist multi-tool. A pair of healthcare industry lobbyists. A lobbyist for defense contractors. An “evangelist” and lobbyist for Palantir, the Silicon Valley company with close ties to intelligence agencies. And a New Hampshire Trump supporter who has only recently graduated from high school (2015).”
GOP TrumpCare: Doctors, Hospitals and Onsurers Oppose Republican Health Plan Posted by Editor on March 8, 2017 in Healthcare 0 Comment “Major associations representing physicians, hospitals, insurers and seniors all leveled sharp attacks against the House GOP’s plan to rewrite the Affordable Care Act on Wednesday, as some Republicans publicly questioned whether the measure can clear the House of Representatives.”
GOP TrumpCare: ‘Age Tax’ Means Healthcare Price Hikes for Older Americans Posted by Editor on March 8, 2017 in Healthcare 0 Comment “Congress calls it age rating; we call it an age tax. Regardless, this bill would force older Americans to pay thousands of dollars more for health care – while lining the insurance company pockets. This is unfair and unaffordable. Call your Member of Congress at 1-844-617-2688 and tell them to give the age tax the ax.“