ACA | The Pump Handle

Affordable Care Act Trump’s budget is a disaster for public health: ‘If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu’

June 6, 2017 Kim Krisberg 1Comment

When you ask public health advocates about President Trump’s recent budget proposal, you typically get a bewildered pause. Public health people don’t like to exaggerate — they follow the science, they stay calm, they face off against dangerous threats on a regular basis. Exaggerating doesn’t help contain diseases, it only makes it harder. So it’s concerning when you hear words like this about Trump’s budget: “devastating,” “not serious,” “ludicrous,” “unfathomable.”

Affordable Care Act More research that defunding Planned Parenthood simply leaves women without needed health care

May 26, 2017 Kim Krisberg

To the surprise of literally no one, President Trump’s 2018 budget proposed stripping all federal funds, including Medicaid dollars, from Planned Parenthood. Proponents of this argue that if Planned Parenthood clinics end up shuttered, women can simply access care elsewhere. But growing research shows that’s the opposite of what actually happens.

Affordable Care Act Study: Kids with chronic health problems will face greater financial burdens if forced out of CHIP

April 25, 2017 Kim Krisberg

More than 8 million U.S. children depend on the Children’s Health Insurance Program for access to timely medical care. The program is authorized through 2019, but its federal funding expires in September and it’s unclear what Congress will do.

Affordable Care Act The ACA marketplace is beginning to stabilize. But it can’t withstand federal sabotage.

April 21, 2017 Kim Krisberg

There was always an assumption that the Affordable Care Act would need time to find its sea legs. That’s why it included measures to shield insurers from the potential profit losses that inherently come with offering millions more people better health coverage at more reasonable prices. Insurers operate on profit margins and the ACA took that into account, for better or for worse.

Affordable Care Act Report: After years of cuts and even more proposed, public health faces funding crisis

April 14, 2017 Kim Krisberg

Public health is in trouble.

Public Health Practice The ACA is safe for now, but it’s still very much in danger

March 25, 2017 Kim Krisberg 2Comment

Yesterday, House Republicans failed to find enough votes to pass their Affordable Care Act replacement. It was a very good day for the millions of Americans projected to lose their coverage under the GOP plan. But let’s be clear: Obamacare is not safe.

Public Health Practice Worth reading: US healthcare, Iowa pollution, and Texas maternal mortality

March 20, 2017 Liz Borkowski, MPH

Recent pieces address US healthcare, pollution enforcement in Iowa, maternal mortality in Texas, and more.

Affordable Care Act Insurance losses under proposed ACA replacement a matter of life and death

March 15, 2017 Kim Krisberg 4Comment

As the Republicans push forward their abysmal Affordable Care Act replacement, much of the talk surrounding its impact focuses on insurance numbers and premium hikes. Those things are certainly important. But this is more important: The Republican plan will cause unnecessary suffering and preventable death.

Affordable Care Act Spread the word: Affordable Care Act enrollment open until Jan. 31

January 27, 2017 Kim Krisberg 1Comment

We’re just a humble little public health blog. But we can still do our part. If you or someone you know need help getting health insurance coverage before next week’s enrollment deadline on Jan. 31, here are some good resources.

Affordable Care Act More voices against ACA repeal: Republican governors and The 27 Percent

January 16, 2017 Liz Borkowski, MPH 2Comment

As Congressional Republicans continue taking steps toward repealing the Affordable Care Act without providing a detailed, workable plan to replace it, more people are speaking out against ACA repeal.