Believe it or not, says economist Robert H. Frank, President Trump and congressional Republicans, while flailing and failing in their efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, are actually proposing health care benefits that can best be delivered with a single payer, “Medicare for All” plan. They have good reasons to support single […]
Affordable Care Act
Posted inNews & Opinion
A few words, Mr. Collins?
Roughly three dozen people stood on a sidewalk and in a parking space in front of House Representative Chris Collins’s Geneseo office last week, trying to get the Republican Congress member to attend an upcoming forum on the Affordable Care Act. They might as well have been spitting into a strong wind. Collins has made […]
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Supreme Court upholds health insurance subsidies
In a 6-3 decision released this morning, the Supreme Court upheld federal subsidies for insurance plans purchased through its exchanges. Vox has a good summary of the case, King v. Burwell, and some analysis of the decision’s impacts. In short, the case had the potential to eliminate a key provision of Obamacare, which was aimed […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
UR students serve the uninsured
About two dozen men and women fought through an early March snowstorm to get something that many people take for granted: medical care. They filed downstairs to the basement of Asbury First United Methodist Church in southeast Rochester, where the University of Rochester and church officials have set up a small health clinic. The examination […]
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The ACA’s poison pill?
You are forgiven if you haven’t heard that the Affordable Care Act is headed back to the Supreme Court. After all, the court ruled on the constitutionality of the law in 2012. That should have been the end of it. But the ACA’s opponents are nothing if not relentless. This time, it is possible that […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Rochester’s health care revolution
The restructuring of health care in the Rochester area is a work in progress.
Posted inNews & Opinion
Supremes launch attacks on women’s health care
This is not good. As it wrapped up its term last month, the Supreme Court issued decisions – twice – that were aimed squarely at women and women’s health and reproductive rights. On June 26, they weakened a Massachusetts law and opened the door for anti-abortion activists to give advice, close and personal, to women […]
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An Earth Day wish: move the tech park
With a name like Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council, you’d think we’d get some actual regional planning. Instead, the goal seems to be insuring that every area in the region gets a share of state money. All right: I’m being snarky. The council does have representatives from throughout the Rochester-Finger Lakes region working together […]
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Religious freedom and our other rights
Americans may not be massacring one another because of religion, but we sure can use it to do plenty of harm. Many of us held our breath last week while Arizona Governor Jan Brewer tried to decide whether to veto a “free exercise of religion” bill. The bill’s critics charged that it would legalize discrimination […]
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Obama’s optimism overshadowed by a somber interview
A contemplative and at times somber President Barack Obama took to the stage at American University last night for an interview with Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s “Hardball.” The interview in many respects showed a different president than the man who first took office in 2008. The big smile wrapped around a canyon of teeth was […]
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Monroe County’s Obamacare benefit
Heading into 2014 budget preparations, Monroe County officials anticipated a 1 percent increase in Medicaid costs. Instead, the county should see a decrease. During last night’s County Legislature Human Services Committee meeting, officials acknowledged that the decrease is due to the federal Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The benefit to the county’s 2014 […]
