Tag: Health Exchanges
WHEN THE ISSUE IS THE PRESERVATION OF POWER, REFORM HASN’T GOT A CHANCE In 2013, despite all the rhetoric with which the legislative year began, lawmakers failed to pass a single reform. The question is: Why? Putting aside any unbecoming motivations lawmakers might have had to resist reforms in ethics law, the state’s government structure, …
Updated on December 4, 2013 by South Carolina Policy Council
MANY SOUTH CAROLINA POLITICIANS HAVE SPOKEN OUT STRONGLY AGAINST OBAMACARE. THEIR ACTIONS TELL A DIFFERENT STORY. In March, Governor Nikki Haley publicly stated that “as long as [she is] the governor of South Carolina, we will not expand Medicaid on President Obama’s watch.” Also in March, House Speaker Bobby Harrell lauded the House budget vote …
WHAT ARE SOUTH CAROLINA’S OPTIONS? Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (widely known as Obamacare) and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that the law is constitutional, there has been quite a bit of confusion over what states can and cannot control. The High Court’s opinion gave states the option not to expand their …
UNFORTUNATELY, THE LATTER State legislators eager to escape Obamacare’s restrictive mandates have united behind the interstate healthcare compact, a single piece of state legislation they expect to free them from having to obey federal law. S 836, recently passed in the Senate [update: it has now passed the House], would make South Carolina an official …
In recent months, the South Carolina Health Planning Committee has seen presentations by industry experts, academics, lawyers, consultants, and insurance companies on the state’s health insurance market. Its charge? To make policy recommendations regarding the establishment of a health insurance exchange in South Carolina, as outlined within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). …
Can South Carolina set up its own independent, free market version of a federal “health exchange”? Don’t be fooled.
The South Carolina Health Care Planning Committee continues to meet, but whether it’s accomplishing anything is open to question.
When Congress originally passed the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” the plan was for the federal government to set up a national “health exchange” – a single government-run “market” for health insurance. One small problem: the feds didn’t have the resources to do it. So they made a virtue of necessity and “allowed” states to set up their own health exchanges. Is it possible, then, to create a “market-friendly” health exchange within federal guidelines? Hardly.
A vast number of new federal healthcare regulations are introduced in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), most of which will be enforced through state or federally run health exchanges. The harmless public face of these health exchanges is a web-based “marketplace,” in which the uninsured and small businesses can shop for health insurance plans selected for sale by the government. Behind agency doors, however, these exchanges will act as the primary regulator of the insurance industry within states, approving or rejecting health plans, overseeing new rate and coverage requirements, doling out health insurance subsidies, and enrolling consumers in whichever government program they are eligible for.
What’s the Committee doing? Over the last few months (check out our video coverage), we’ve watched a roomful of policymakers and health care officials struggle to come to grips with the bureaucratic nightmare known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Listening to the governor’s committee attempt to make sense of it is a little like watching Sisyphus roll his boulder up that hill in Hades. Each time the committee members believe they’ve reached consensus on what the law actually means, a new expert or lawyer or consultant contradicts it.
Tag: Health Exchanges
Why Did Reform Die in 2013?
Updated on April 1, 2015 by South Carolina Policy Council
WHEN THE ISSUE IS THE PRESERVATION OF POWER, REFORM HASN’T GOT A CHANCE In 2013, despite all the rhetoric with which the legislative year began, lawmakers failed to pass a single reform. The question is: Why? Putting aside any unbecoming motivations lawmakers might have had to resist reforms in ethics law, the state’s government structure, …
Category: Commentary, Research Tags: Budget and Control Board, Department of Transportation, Health Exchanges, Legislative Reform, Medicaid, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
ObamaCare by the Back Door?
Updated on December 4, 2013 by South Carolina Policy Council
MANY SOUTH CAROLINA POLITICIANS HAVE SPOKEN OUT STRONGLY AGAINST OBAMACARE. THEIR ACTIONS TELL A DIFFERENT STORY. In March, Governor Nikki Haley publicly stated that “as long as [she is] the governor of South Carolina, we will not expand Medicaid on President Obama’s watch.” Also in March, House Speaker Bobby Harrell lauded the House budget vote …
Category: Commentary, Health Care, Independence from DC Tags: Health Exchanges, Obamacare Barriers, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Facts on Medicaid Expansion
Updated on December 4, 2013 by South Carolina Policy Council
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WHAT ARE SOUTH CAROLINA’S OPTIONS? Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (widely known as Obamacare) and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that the law is constitutional, there has been quite a bit of confusion over what states can and cannot control. The High Court’s opinion gave states the option not to expand their …
Category: Commentary, Health Care Tags: Health Exchanges, Medicaid, Obamacare Barriers
An Interstate Compact: Serious option or political gesture?
Updated on September 4, 2014 by South Carolina Policy Council
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UNFORTUNATELY, THE LATTER State legislators eager to escape Obamacare’s restrictive mandates have united behind the interstate healthcare compact, a single piece of state legislation they expect to free them from having to obey federal law. S 836, recently passed in the Senate [update: it has now passed the House], would make South Carolina an official …
Category: Health Care, Limited Government Tags: Health Exchanges, Interstate Health Care Compact
SC’s Health Planning Committee Recommends Against a State Exchange
Updated on December 19, 2011 by South Carolina Policy Council
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In recent months, the South Carolina Health Planning Committee has seen presentations by industry experts, academics, lawyers, consultants, and insurance companies on the state’s health insurance market. Its charge? To make policy recommendations regarding the establishment of a health insurance exchange in South Carolina, as outlined within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). …
Category: Commentary Tags: Health Exchanges, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Myths and Facts About the State Health Exchange
Updated on February 25, 2012 by South Carolina Policy Council
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Can South Carolina set up its own independent, free market version of a federal “health exchange”? Don’t be fooled.
Category: Health Care Tags: Health Exchanges, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Health Planners Lament “Inevitable” Takeover
Updated on February 25, 2012 by South Carolina Policy Council
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The South Carolina Health Care Planning Committee continues to meet, but whether it’s accomplishing anything is open to question.
Category: Health Care Tags: Health Exchanges, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Is a ‘free market health exchange’ a smart policy alternative or contradiction in terms?
Updated on March 27, 2012 by South Carolina Policy Council
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When Congress originally passed the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” the plan was for the federal government to set up a national “health exchange” – a single government-run “market” for health insurance. One small problem: the feds didn’t have the resources to do it. So they made a virtue of necessity and “allowed” states to set up their own health exchanges. Is it possible, then, to create a “market-friendly” health exchange within federal guidelines? Hardly.
Category: Health Care Tags: Health Exchanges, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
What Flexibility? Debunking the Myth of the Free-Market Health Exchange
Updated on February 25, 2012 by South Carolina Policy Council
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A vast number of new federal healthcare regulations are introduced in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), most of which will be enforced through state or federally run health exchanges. The harmless public face of these health exchanges is a web-based “marketplace,” in which the uninsured and small businesses can shop for health insurance plans selected for sale by the government. Behind agency doors, however, these exchanges will act as the primary regulator of the insurance industry within states, approving or rejecting health plans, overseeing new rate and coverage requirements, doling out health insurance subsidies, and enrolling consumers in whichever government program they are eligible for.
Category: Health Care, Independence from DC Tags: Health Exchanges, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
South Carolina’s “Health Planning Committee” Doesn’t Do Much Planning
Updated on February 25, 2012 by South Carolina Policy Council
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What’s the Committee doing? Over the last few months (check out our video coverage), we’ve watched a roomful of policymakers and health care officials struggle to come to grips with the bureaucratic nightmare known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Listening to the governor’s committee attempt to make sense of it is a little like watching Sisyphus roll his boulder up that hill in Hades. Each time the committee members believe they’ve reached consensus on what the law actually means, a new expert or lawyer or consultant contradicts it.
Category: Health Care, Independence from DC Tags: Health Exchanges, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act