Commentary
Commentary
Medicare Can’t Afford Not To Cover Ozempic
The Trump administration has yet to decide whether Medicare will cover a revolutionary new class of weight-loss treatments, which include drugs like Zepbound and Wegovy. But a decision could be imminent, according to Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Speaking at an event at ...
Sally C. Pipes
October 27, 2025
Commentary
Another Program Won’t Secure Quality Rural Healthcare
In rural America, quality medical care can be hard to come by. The Rural Health Transformation Program that’s part of the budget reconciliation package that became law this summer aims to change that. The $50 billion program seeks to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes in rural America. All worthy ...
Sally C. Pipes
October 24, 2025
Commentary
Enhanced Obamacare subsidies are the problem
Democrats are refusing to reopen the federal government unless Congress extends the enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies scheduled to expire at the end of this year. Their ultimate goal is to make those subsidies permanent. The shutdown’s architects say that failing to renew these tax credits will threaten the finances of ...
Sally C. Pipes
October 24, 2025
Commentary
Will EV market survive without subsidies?
Sept. 30 was the last day of the generous, sales-boosting federal subsidies for electric-vehicle purchases. It was also the final day that EVs could access carpool lanes with only the driver in the car. For years, various low- and zero-emission automobiles have been the darlings of policymakers, such as Gov. ...
Kerry Jackson
October 23, 2025
340B
Big hospitals are gaming the rural healthcare system, and Congress is helping
Congress has handed hospital giants a new line of taxpayer-funded credit. This summer, Congress included a $50 billion “rural health fund” in the multitrillion-dollar One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The fund’s supporters are touting it as a lifeline for struggling community hospitals. But small-town emergency rooms will not be the ...
Sally C. Pipes
October 21, 2025
Commentary
Yes, Democrats are defending Medicaid for illegal immigrants
“Not a single federal dollar goes to providing health insurance for undocumented immigrants. NOT. ONE. PENNY.” These were the words of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in a recent X post, after Republicans accused Democrats of shutting down the government in order to keep funding Medicaid for illegal immigrants… ...
Sally C. Pipes
October 20, 2025
Commentary
Republicans shouldn’t cave to Democrats’ shutdown demands
As the government shutdown stretches into its third week, Republicans have signaled some willingness to agree to Democrats’ demand to extend billions of dollars in enhanced premium subsidies for exchange plans beyond their scheduled expiration at the end of this year. That would be a mistake. The enhanced insurance subsidies ...
Sally C. Pipes
October 20, 2025
Commentary
The Compounding Pharmacy Loophole Threatens Safety And Innovation
The new class of GLP-1 medicines exemplifies both the potential of pharmaceutical innovation and the risks to future advancements from ill-considered government policies. The incredible benefits from GLP-1’s are clear – they significantly improve our health and well-being. Risks arise because current federal policies enable activities that jeopardize patient safety ...
Wayne H Winegarden
October 17, 2025
Commentary
If Health Insurance Premiums Rise Next Year, Blame Democrats
In the ongoing government shutdown saga, Democrats continue to cast themselves as defenders of affordable health insurance… Premiums have been on a steady upward trajectory for more than a decade. Obamacare’s own diktats are why premiums have risen. Read the op-ed here.
Sally C. Pipes
October 15, 2025
Commentary
Lousy Medicare Insurance Is Worsening Outcomes For All Patients
Medicare’s long-term financial outlook is in dire straits. While spending is already historically high, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that, without fundamental reform, things will only get worse. According to the CBO, total government spending will grow from 23.3% of GDP in 2025 to 26.6% in 2055. Almost two-thirds ...
Wayne H Winegarden
October 14, 2025
Medicare Can’t Afford Not To Cover Ozempic
The Trump administration has yet to decide whether Medicare will cover a revolutionary new class of weight-loss treatments, which include drugs like Zepbound and Wegovy. But a decision could be imminent, according to Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Speaking at an event at ...
Another Program Won’t Secure Quality Rural Healthcare
In rural America, quality medical care can be hard to come by. The Rural Health Transformation Program that’s part of the budget reconciliation package that became law this summer aims to change that. The $50 billion program seeks to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes in rural America. All worthy ...
Enhanced Obamacare subsidies are the problem
Democrats are refusing to reopen the federal government unless Congress extends the enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies scheduled to expire at the end of this year. Their ultimate goal is to make those subsidies permanent. The shutdown’s architects say that failing to renew these tax credits will threaten the finances of ...
Will EV market survive without subsidies?
Sept. 30 was the last day of the generous, sales-boosting federal subsidies for electric-vehicle purchases. It was also the final day that EVs could access carpool lanes with only the driver in the car. For years, various low- and zero-emission automobiles have been the darlings of policymakers, such as Gov. ...
Big hospitals are gaming the rural healthcare system, and Congress is helping
Congress has handed hospital giants a new line of taxpayer-funded credit. This summer, Congress included a $50 billion “rural health fund” in the multitrillion-dollar One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The fund’s supporters are touting it as a lifeline for struggling community hospitals. But small-town emergency rooms will not be the ...
Yes, Democrats are defending Medicaid for illegal immigrants
“Not a single federal dollar goes to providing health insurance for undocumented immigrants. NOT. ONE. PENNY.” These were the words of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in a recent X post, after Republicans accused Democrats of shutting down the government in order to keep funding Medicaid for illegal immigrants… ...
Republicans shouldn’t cave to Democrats’ shutdown demands
As the government shutdown stretches into its third week, Republicans have signaled some willingness to agree to Democrats’ demand to extend billions of dollars in enhanced premium subsidies for exchange plans beyond their scheduled expiration at the end of this year. That would be a mistake. The enhanced insurance subsidies ...
The Compounding Pharmacy Loophole Threatens Safety And Innovation
The new class of GLP-1 medicines exemplifies both the potential of pharmaceutical innovation and the risks to future advancements from ill-considered government policies. The incredible benefits from GLP-1’s are clear – they significantly improve our health and well-being. Risks arise because current federal policies enable activities that jeopardize patient safety ...
If Health Insurance Premiums Rise Next Year, Blame Democrats
In the ongoing government shutdown saga, Democrats continue to cast themselves as defenders of affordable health insurance… Premiums have been on a steady upward trajectory for more than a decade. Obamacare’s own diktats are why premiums have risen. Read the op-ed here.
Lousy Medicare Insurance Is Worsening Outcomes For All Patients
Medicare’s long-term financial outlook is in dire straits. While spending is already historically high, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that, without fundamental reform, things will only get worse. According to the CBO, total government spending will grow from 23.3% of GDP in 2025 to 26.6% in 2055. Almost two-thirds ...