Our Health Policy Matters

Obamacare will insure 2 million fewer people in 2014 than previously reported.  That number is in a new report just released by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). That may come as a surprise to you.  But it isn’t the biggest surprise in the report for me.  I’ll explain why later.  First, let’s review the new numbers. Last May, the CBO estimated that seven million people would sign up for insurance through exchanges this year.  That number is not a surprise – it has been reported widely in the media. It also estimated that nine million previously uninsured people would be enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP.  In other words, a total of 16 million people would obtain coverage this year through Obamacare. But last week, CBO released updated estimates .  It now says that only 6 million will sign up through the exchanges this year, and only 8 million will enroll in Medicaid or CHIP.  Because some of the people who would have si...

Obamacare will insure 2 million fewer people in 2014 than previously reported.  That number is in a new report just released by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). That may come as a surprise to you.  But it isn’t the biggest surprise in the report for me.  I’ll explain why later.  First, let’s review the new numbers. Last May, the CBO estimated that seven million people would sign up for insurance through exchanges this year.  That number is not a surprise – it has been reported widely in the media. It also estimated that nine million previously uninsured people would be enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP.  In other words, a total of 16 million people would obtain coverage this year through Obamacare. But last week, CBO released updated estimates .  It now says that only 6 million will sign up through the exchanges this year, and only 8 million will enroll in Medicaid or CHIP.  Because some of the people who would have si...

It was good news when Congress recently agreed on a budget for the first time in forever.  It was the product of compromise, and everyone expected to give at least a little.  But when the details came out last week, it turned out that some had to give more than others.  And the ones who probably gave up the most were the people who have saved the greatest number of lives over the past century – the public health and prevention community. Last week, the House introduced the FY2014 Omnibus Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education bill – one of twelve appropriations bills that will implement the FY2014 budget.  As the bill summary noted, the legislation includes $156.8 billion in discretionary federal spending for all these important areas combined. That is a big number, and comes to around $500 per person.  By comparison, Defense – which is often considered to be the other “big” area of discretionary spending – will get around $1500 per person. ...

It was good news when Congress recently agreed on a budget for the first time in forever.  It was the product of compromise, and everyone expected to give at least a little.  But when the details came out last week, it turned out that some had to give more than others.  And the ones who probably gave up the most were the people who have saved the greatest number of lives over the past century – the public health and prevention community. Last week, the House introduced the FY2014 Omnibus Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education bill – one of twelve appropriations bills that will implement the FY2014 budget.  As the bill summary noted, the legislation includes $156.8 billion in discretionary federal spending for all these important areas combined. That is a big number, and comes to around $500 per person.  By comparison, Defense – which is often considered to be the other “big” area of discretionary spending – will get around $1500 per person. ...