Chiropractic Breakthrough

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Here’s one attempt to decode the debate and figure out what a deficit-reduction deal — any deal — would mean for the health care sector and the Affordable Care Act, starting with the programs and initiatives that are most at risk. Prevention Funds: High Risk … Medicaid Eligibility and Funding Expansions: High Risk … CLASS Act: Moderate Risk … Individual Mandate: Low Risk.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Thomas Moore Law Center formally asked the Supreme Court Tuesday to reverse an appeals court decision upholding the health care reform law. Marking the first appeal of its kind to reach the nation’s highest court, the conservative legal group continues to insist the mandate requiring all Americans to purchase health insurance is unconstitutional.

Democratic and Republican leaders are preparing their own backup plans as possibilities for a bipartisan approach appear increasingly dim. Both political and policy-oriented differences are making the process difficult. Medicare, Medicaid, other entitlement programs and even Tricare are in play.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: A key provision in President Obama’s health care law that would allow Americans to save money for elderly long-term care has been put on the chopping block as part of a sweeping $3.7 trillion deficit-reduction plan proposed by a bipartisan group of senators known as the “Gang of Six.” The provision is known as the CLASS Act, or the Community Living Assistance Services and Support Act, and was designed to relieve pressure on Medicaid and help keep Americans out of nursing homes by enabling them to save for future senior assistance with issues like eating, bathing or dressing as they get older.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Efforts to fix a glitch in the health care reform law could backfire on thousands of people with disabilities, The Hill has learned. Republicans want to change a part of the law that made 3 million middle-income people eligible for Medicaid. The law excludes Social Security income when determining eligibility for health insurance exchange subsidies or Medicaid, causing many middle-class people to become eligible for Medicaid starting in 2014.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: New consumer-controlled health insurance plans could get seed money from the government to increase competition – and maybe cut prices — under new rules announced Monday by the Department of Health and Human Servives. The health department hopes at least one “co-op” will launch in each state and anticipates funding a total of 57 around the country.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: At a closed-door meeting Friday morning, GOP leaders turned to their most trusted budget expert, Rep. Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, to explain to rank-and-file members what many others have come to understand: A fiscal meltdown could occur if Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The $350 billion or so in potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid over 10 years that were identified in budget negotiations would shift the cost of medicine to public hospitals, the states and individuals, but wouldn’t do much to tackle rising health care costs themselves.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: In a big step to carry out the new health care law, the Obama administration unveiled standards on Monday for insurance marketplaces that will allow individuals, families and small businesses in every state to shop for insurance, compare prices and benefits and buy coverage.

HCR Update fromMark Sanna: Political leaders retreated to hard-line positions Sunday after talks to reach a comprehensive deficit reduction deal sought by President Barack Obama effectively broke down over Republican resistance to tax increases. House Speaker John Boehner said Saturday that the insistence by Obama and Democrats on raising revenue through higher taxes prevented any chance that Republicans could support a major deal that also would cut spending and reform entitlement programs such as Medicare.