Affordable Care Act

HOUSE VOTES TO REPEAL HEFTY TAX SET TO LEVY EMPLOYEES’ HEALTH PLANS

By Miriam Raftery
 
July 19, 2019 (San Diego) – By an overwhelming 419 to 6 vote, the House of Representatives has passed H.R. 748, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019.  The measure, if approved by the Senate and the President, would repeal the so-called “Cadillac Tax,” an Affordable Care Act provision set to roll out in 2022 (postponed from 2020). It would impose a 40% excise tax on generous employer-provided health insurance plans for employees and families.

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TRUMP ASKS COURT TO TAKE AWAY PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS, BREAKS CAMPAIGN PROMISES

 

By Miriam Raftery

June 9, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – The Trump administration is asking a court to strike down a provision in the Affordable Care Act which requires insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions, the Los Angeles Times reports.


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SENATE APPROVES TAX BILL WITH DEEP, PERMANENT CUTS FOR CORPORATIONS BUT ONLY SMALL, SHORT-TERM CUTS FOR OTHERS

 

Loss of deductions and undercutting Affordable Care Act could eliminate savings for many middle class and low-income families and individuals

By Miriam Raftery

December 4, 2017 (Washington D.C.) --By a narrow 51 to 49 vote, the Senate has approved a sweeping tax overhaul bill that marks the first significant legislative victory for President Donald Trump.  The Tax Cut and Jobs Act is broad, providing major long-term cuts for corporations and wealthy individuals plus short-term tax cuts for millions of other Americans.

But many of the savings for ordinary Americans will be negated, since the bill also takes away numerous tax deductions and eliminates a key provision of the Affordable Healthcare Act Act, meaning premiums will rise and many will lose healthcare, the Washington Post, Forbes and New York Times report. 

A Washington Post analysis finds that 62 percent of Americans will get a tax cut of at least $100 in 2019, but 38 percent will get no tax cuts. Less than half (44 percent) would have cuts of $500 or more—and most of those are wealthy, not middle class or low income families. By 2027, only 16 percent of individuals will still have tax cuts; 84 percent of Americans will have none.  But the cuts for corporations are permanent.


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AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HEALTH PLAN ENROLLMENT NOV. 1-DEC. 15

 

East County News Service

October 23, 2017 (San Diego) - Open enrollment to get coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for 2018 begins on November 1st and ends December 15th.  Many Americans aren’t getting this important information, since the Trump administration has taken the following steps to sabotage getting word out and discouraging people from signing up.


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CA ATTORNEY GENERAL SEEKS EMERGENCY INJUNCTION TO HALT TRUMP FROM CANCELING HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDIES

 

By Miriam Raftery

October 19, 2017 (San Francisco) — President Donald Trump’s executive order to cancel cost-sharing subsidy payments required by the Affordable Care Act passed by Congress is being challenged in court by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.  Becerra has filed a motion asking the court to compel the federal government to “follow the law and pay the subsidies that millions of Americans rely on to lower the out-of-pocket costs in their insurance plans,” according to a press release issued by his office.



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HOUSE PASSES REPEAL OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT; BILL MOVES TO SENATE

 

Hunter and Issa cast deciding votes

By Liz Alper

May 5, 2017 (Washington D.C.) - On Monday, ECM reported that a bill that could repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was heading to a rushed vote in the House on Thursday.  That bill, the American Healthcare Act, passed yesterday narrowly.

The bill passed by a four-vote margin with San Diego Republicans Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa both voting in favor. Had they voted against, the vote would have been tied and the measure would not have passed.


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WOMEN’S GROUP TO FLY PLANE WITH BANNER OVER GOP RETREAT: “FOX POLL: ACA MORE POPULAR THAN TRUMP”

 

East County News Service

January 25, 2017 (Philadelphia) -- On Thursday, January 26th, as Donald Trump meets with Republican Congressional leaders at the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia debating how to repeal the Affordable Care Act, UltraViolet, a national women’s advocacy organization, will fly a plane banner over the meeting reading:  “Fox Poll: ACA More Popular Than Trump.”


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SENATE REPUBLICANS VOTE TO REPEAL AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE ACT—WITH NO REPLACEMENT

 

 

Congressional Members Susan Davis and Scott Peters to hold Save Our Health” press event Sunday to share concerns over repeal

East County News Service

January 13, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – In the dead of the night while most Americans were sleeping,  the Senate voted 51-48 to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) even though no replacement plan has been introduced.  That leaves 300,000 people in San Diego County poised to lose their healthcare.  More than 900,000 others receive health care through Medi-Cal, many of whom became eligible through the ACA and could be left with no coverage potentially as soon as later this month, when President-Elect Donald Trump takes office, if he signs a repeal into law. 

The measure still needs approval by the House, but with overwhelming support by Republicans in control, it’s expected to sail through. Even many Republicans are raising doubts over whether any replacement plan could be enacted in time to prevent loss of coverage, how much coverage would cost, or whether some would be left uncovered by a future GOP plan.

San Diego Democratic Congressional members Susan Davis and Scott Peters will hold a “Save Our Healthcare” press event on Sunday, January 15th from 1 p.m. to 1:30 at Sharp Memorial Outpatient Pavilion, 3075 Health Center Drive, San Diego. (view map)


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MEDICARE SCRUTINY PUSHES HEART, ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANT MAKERS TO STRENGTHEN WARRANTIES

 

By Miriam Raftery

July 8, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Financial penalties imposed by Medicare on hospitals that have to readmit too many patients is having a positive impact. Scrutiny of readmissions is mandated under the Affordable Care Act.


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SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES

 

By Miriam Raftery

June 25, 2015 (Washington D.C.) –The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a landmark ruling to uphold nationwide federal subsidies in all 50 states to help people buy healthcare under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. 

Opponents had argued that the subsidies should be available only to people in states that set up healthcare exchanges .  Currently 8.7 million Americans receive the subsidies, but the vast majority of those – 6.4 million—are in states that did not set up exchanges. Those 6.4 million people would have lost their subsidies if plaintiffs had prevailed in the case, King v. Burrell.

Chief Justice John Roberts voted with liberal justices to support the law.  Writing the majority decision, Roberts concluded, “Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not destroy them.”


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CALIF. LAWMAKERS WORK ON HEALTH INSURANCE IMPROVEMENTS

 

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service

April 22, 2014 (Sacramento) -- Changes to some health insurance policies under the Affordable Care Act are winding their way through the California Legislature. The bills aim to free patients from surprise charges and outrageous co-pays.


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FEB. 15 DEADLINE TO SIGN UP FOR COVERED CALIFORNIA HEALTH INSURANCE

 

Tax penalties kick in for uninsured this year

East County News Service

February 8, 2015 (San Diego) – February 15th is the deadline to sign up for health insurance this year under Covered California, the state’s exchange for purchasing insurance under the Affordable Care Act, which requires every American to have health insurance.


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HOUSE WEAKENS MANDATE FOR EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE

 

East County News Service

January 8, 2015 (Washington D.C.)--The House of Representatives voted today to strike down a portion of the Affordable Care Act’s healthcare mandate.  The law requires that employers must provide healthcare for all employees working 30 hours a week or more.


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CONSUMER WATCHDOG BLASTS NO-BID CONTRACTS BY COVERED CALIFORNIA

 

By Miriam Raftery

October 13, 2014 (Sacramento)--Why did Covered California award $184 million in no-bid contracts – including millions to consulting companies with ties to executives on the Covered California board?   For instance, $4.2 million went to the Tori Group, whose founder once worked with Covered California’s executive director, Peter Lee, and other contracts went to a subsidiary of a firm  that Lee once led.


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COUNCILMEMBER MARTI EMERALD AND FAMILIES OF VICTIMS WHO SUFFERED SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES CALL FOR INTERPRETER SERVICES IN WAKE OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IMPLEMENTATION

 

June 9, 2014 (San Diego) — Flanked by the families of victims who have suffered serious health issues as a result of not having a medical interpreter, San Diego Councilmember Marti Emerald today called for support of state legislation that would increase the number of interpreters in medical settings to help ensure Californians with limited English receive safe, appropriate care and treatment.


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CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES SPEAK AT REPUBLICAN/TEA PARTY EVENT IN LAKESIDE

 

By Nadin Abbott

May 19, 2012 (Lakeside)—The East County Cailfornia Republican Assembly  and the Lakeside Tea Party sponsored a joint event tonight at the Veterans for Foreign Wars post in Lakeside. The event had three Congressional candidates for three different districts, the 50th, 52nd, and 53rd.


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SCIENCE AND HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS


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A DOCTOR'S VISIT FOR THE PRICE OF PIZZA

 

Legislation Introduced to Boost Medi-Cal Reimbursements

Lori Abbott, California News Service

February 25, 2014 (Sacramento)--An effort is under way to restore funding cuts to the California Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. California has the lowest reimbursement rates in the nation, at just $18 a visit for primary care services - which makes it increasingly more difficult for people on Medicaid to find a doctor.


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GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LOOMS AS REPUBLICANS AIM TO LET FEDERAL SPENDING EXPIRE UNLESS HEALTHCARE REFORMS ARE REPEALED

 

By Alex Riggins

November 19, 2013 (Washington D.C.) -- Republicans in Congress are threatening to shut down the government if they don’t get what they want – the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare", defunded.

The House of Representatives will vote Friday on a bill to fund the government beyond the Sept. 30 budget deadline, but the bill would completely defund the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.


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WELCOME BACK CENTER PREPARES FOREIGN-TRAINED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FOR U.S. LICENSES

 

August 8, 2013 (El Cajon) – Foreign-trained doctors, nurses and medical technicians may help fill the gap between the number of health care professionals working in the United States today and the larger number expected to be needed when the federal Affordable Care Act goes into effect on January 1, 2014.

Welcome Back Centers at Grossmont College and eight other locations around the United States help to coordinate local efforts to prepare the foreign medical professionals for their American licensing examinations.


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READER'S EDITORIAL: ANTHEM SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM HEALTH BENEFITS EXCHANGE

 

By Dave Jones, California Insurance Commissioner

July 30, 2013 (San Diego) – In case you missed it, last week I recommended that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Cross of California should be excluded from California's Small Business Health Benefits Exchange.

On July 1, Anthem will increase rates on small employers 7.2%, the third unreasonable rate increase imposed on small employers this year alone.  The 12-month cumulative increase for these Anthem customers is 17.6%; had Anthem reduced its rate increase to a reasonable level as I requested, policyholders would have seen $37 million in savings.


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BILL IMPLEMENTING AFFORDABLE CARE ACT CONSUMER PROTECTIONS GOES TO GOVERNOR

 

Measure Ends Use of Preexisting Condition Exclusions, Excessive Rates

May 2, 2013 (Sacramento)--A bill by Senator Ed Hernandez, O.D. (D – West Covina), Chair of the Senate Health Committee, that would put in place for California the vital consumer protections and reforms included as part of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), cleared its final legislative hurdle this week and is on its way to the Governor for signature.  The legislation, SB X1 2, was introduced as part of the special session on health care called for by Governor Brown during his State of the State Address in January.


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CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS PASS MEDI-CAL EXPANSION

By Lori Abbott, California News Service

March 10, 2013 (Sacramento) - One million more low-income and uninsured Californians are closer to getting health care.  The state Assembly and Senate have passed key legislation that will expand California's Medi-Cal program and make it easier and faster to use.

Assembly Speaker John Perez says the bills are an important step to ensure those living below the poverty line have access to quality care. "People living at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty line," Perez says. "We're talking about people surviving on $15,400 a year or less."


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STUDY FINDS YOUNG CANCER SURVIVORS OFTEN FORGO MEDICAL CARE DUE TO COSTS

September 24, 2012 (San Diego)—Many survivors of adolescent and young adult cancers avoid routine medical care because it’s too expensive, despite the fact that most have health insurance, an article published today in CANCER, a peer-reviewed publication of the American Cancer Society, reveals. That is the conclusion of a new study published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The results indicate that expanding insurance coverage for young cancer survivors may be insufficient to safeguard their long-term health without efforts to reduce their medical cost burdens.


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HEALTH CARE LAW’S PROVISIONS FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH TAKE EFFECT; FREE PREVENTATIVE CARE NOW AVAILABLE

August 2, 2012 (Washington D.C.)  Effective August 1, 47 million women across America have access to eight new prevention-related health care services without paying more out of their own pocket, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced yesterday.  


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HOW HEALTHCARE REFORMS WILL AFFECT NONPROFITS

 By Miriam Raftery

July 5, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –Among the least understood aspects of the Affordable Care Act are the benefits that it offers to nonprofit organizations.  Smaller nonprofits have potential to reap benefits, along with their employees—without the potential penalties facing some for-profit employers.

East County Magazine contacted the new Health Law Guide for businesses site to ask how the law will impact nonprofit organizations.  Here is the response that we received:


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HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES PREPARE FOR HEALTH CARE CHANGES: NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED

July 5, 2012 (San Diego) -- The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010, will take full effect by 2014. In light of a recent Supreme Court decision ruling the law constitutional, you may wonder how the law will affect California's small businesses.


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READER'S EDITORIAL: TAKE ACTION TO STOP INSURANCE RATE HIKES

 By Dave Jones, California Insurance Commissioner

July 2, 2012 (Sacramento) -- The Supreme Court decision regarding the Affordable Care Act was good news for Californians. It means that Californians with health insurance will continue to enjoy the its  benefits. Now we can move forward with reforms to provide health insurance to those without it. 
 
There continues to be a major missing reform in the Affordable Care Act, however. There is still no authority to reject excessive health insurance and HMO rate hikes. And without this reform, rates for individuals, families, and businesses will keep climbing.

 


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$9 MILLION FOR HEALTHCARE IN SAN DIEGO, IMPERIAL COUNTIES

June 4, 2012 (San Diego) The U.S. Health & Human Services Department has awarded $9,398,738 for healthcare in the communities of San Diego, Campo and Brawley.


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PRESIDENT MAINTAINS AFFORDABLE CARE ACT RULE EXPANDING COVERAGE FOR CONTRACEPTIVES, KEEPS RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION NARROW


January 22, 2012 (Washington D.C.)
-- Despite pressure from the powerful U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops lobby, the White House announced today that the President would not call for an expansion of the religious exemption in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services'(HHS) proposed rule regarding contraceptive coverage without cost-sharing by female employees.

 


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