Sally C. Pipes
Commentary
Yes, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, The VA Is Badly Broken
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently offered a vigorous defense of the Veterans Health Administration, arguing that its problems were a “myth” peddled by Republicans who want to privatize the system. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” she said. One of her fellow Democrats would beg to differ. And he has a relevant ...
Sally C. Pipes
May 13, 2019
Commentary
Hair care’s lessons for health care
The other day, I found myself in a predicament. I was having a bit of a bad hair day. So I went to a Drybar, the chain of quick-service salons, and poof! An hour and $49 later, I was ready for the catwalk. Consider the simple chain of events that transpired. Within ...
Sally C. Pipes
May 10, 2019
Commentary
Resurrecting Obamacare’s most hated provision
Since Congress effectively ended the unpopular requirement that all Americans obtain health coverage by zeroing out the fine for noncompliance as of the first of this year, three states and the District of Columbia have enacted mandates of their own. The mandate that Massachusetts imposed in 2006 is now back ...
Sally C. Pipes
May 1, 2019
Commentary
Single-Payer Will Fracture Democrats’ 2020 Coalition
Earlier this month, Senator Bernie Sanders released a new version of his plan for “Medicare for All.” Four of his competitors for the Democratic presidential nomination — Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Cory Booker — quickly signed on as co-sponsors. They all think Medicare for All is their ...
Sally C. Pipes
April 30, 2019
Commentary
Say No To Canadian Drug Imports
Lawmakers in the Sunshine State are looking to our northern neighbor to help them reduce drug prices. The Florida House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would allow the importation and sale of prescription drugs from Canada, where prices are generally lower because the government forcibly controls them. Florida isn’t the ...
Sally C. Pipes
April 29, 2019
Commentary
X out ‘Medicare X’
Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., recently unveiled their “Medicare X” proposal, which would create a public Medicare plan that anyone could purchase. The idea’s supporters are framing it as a moderate counterpoint to “Medicare for all,” which would ban private insurance coverage and force everyone onto a new ...
Sally C. Pipes
April 25, 2019
Commentary
Pick your poison on Democrats’ health care ideas
More than 100 House Democrats have signed onto a new bill from Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal that would outlaw private insurance and force everyone into a government-run health plan. Some other Democrats are leery of Jayapal’s bid for “Medicare for All.” So they’ve rolled out more “moderate” measures that would ...
Sally C. Pipes
April 22, 2019
Commentary
Medicare ‘buy-in’ proposals would lead to single-payer system, long waits, care rationing
Many Democratic politicians, including those seeking the party’s presidential nomination, believe bigger government is the solution to America’s health care woes. But a handful of centrist Democrats worry full-fledged “Medicare for all” will spook independents. So they have unveiled several seemingly moderate plans that would allow people to buy into Medicare ...
Sally C. Pipes
April 16, 2019
Commentary
Blocking Medicaid Work Requirements Is Unwise
Medicaid expansion in Kentucky and Arkansas could be on life support. Late last month, Judge James E. Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia blocked the two states’ attempts to require able-bodied adults to work as a condition of receiving Medicaid coverage. Last week, the federal Department of ...
Sally C. Pipes
April 15, 2019
Commentary
Bernie Sanders took his terrible ‘Medicare for all’ idea and made it a disaster
On Wednesday, 2020 candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., released his updated “Medicare for all” bill. The plan is even more disastrous than its original 2017 iteration. The new bill is not all that different from the one he introduced two years ago. It would still force virtually every person to swap ...
Sally C. Pipes
April 11, 2019
Yes, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, The VA Is Badly Broken
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently offered a vigorous defense of the Veterans Health Administration, arguing that its problems were a “myth” peddled by Republicans who want to privatize the system. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” she said. One of her fellow Democrats would beg to differ. And he has a relevant ...
Hair care’s lessons for health care
The other day, I found myself in a predicament. I was having a bit of a bad hair day. So I went to a Drybar, the chain of quick-service salons, and poof! An hour and $49 later, I was ready for the catwalk. Consider the simple chain of events that transpired. Within ...
Resurrecting Obamacare’s most hated provision
Since Congress effectively ended the unpopular requirement that all Americans obtain health coverage by zeroing out the fine for noncompliance as of the first of this year, three states and the District of Columbia have enacted mandates of their own. The mandate that Massachusetts imposed in 2006 is now back ...
Single-Payer Will Fracture Democrats’ 2020 Coalition
Earlier this month, Senator Bernie Sanders released a new version of his plan for “Medicare for All.” Four of his competitors for the Democratic presidential nomination — Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Cory Booker — quickly signed on as co-sponsors. They all think Medicare for All is their ...
Say No To Canadian Drug Imports
Lawmakers in the Sunshine State are looking to our northern neighbor to help them reduce drug prices. The Florida House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would allow the importation and sale of prescription drugs from Canada, where prices are generally lower because the government forcibly controls them. Florida isn’t the ...
X out ‘Medicare X’
Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., recently unveiled their “Medicare X” proposal, which would create a public Medicare plan that anyone could purchase. The idea’s supporters are framing it as a moderate counterpoint to “Medicare for all,” which would ban private insurance coverage and force everyone onto a new ...
Pick your poison on Democrats’ health care ideas
More than 100 House Democrats have signed onto a new bill from Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal that would outlaw private insurance and force everyone into a government-run health plan. Some other Democrats are leery of Jayapal’s bid for “Medicare for All.” So they’ve rolled out more “moderate” measures that would ...
Medicare ‘buy-in’ proposals would lead to single-payer system, long waits, care rationing
Many Democratic politicians, including those seeking the party’s presidential nomination, believe bigger government is the solution to America’s health care woes. But a handful of centrist Democrats worry full-fledged “Medicare for all” will spook independents. So they have unveiled several seemingly moderate plans that would allow people to buy into Medicare ...
Blocking Medicaid Work Requirements Is Unwise
Medicaid expansion in Kentucky and Arkansas could be on life support. Late last month, Judge James E. Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia blocked the two states’ attempts to require able-bodied adults to work as a condition of receiving Medicaid coverage. Last week, the federal Department of ...
Bernie Sanders took his terrible ‘Medicare for all’ idea and made it a disaster
On Wednesday, 2020 candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., released his updated “Medicare for all” bill. The plan is even more disastrous than its original 2017 iteration. The new bill is not all that different from the one he introduced two years ago. It would still force virtually every person to swap ...