Columbia Regional Business ReportBy Bill Poovey bpoovey@scbiznews.comPublished June 25, 2013 More than 119,000 South Carolina consumers whose health insurers failed to spend enough premium dollars on patient care are due to get rebates totaling $6.2 million from the insurers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the…
NFIB admits its position on Medicaid expansion will hurt many small businesses
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has strongly advocated that states not expand their Medicaid programs as allowed under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). This wasn’t a business decision by the organization because expanding Medicaid will benefit small businesses as I have pointed out in opinion editorials (here, here…
Fallout for states rejecting Medicaid expansion
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Rejecting the Medicaid expansion in the federal health care law could have unexpected consequences for states where Republican lawmakers remain steadfastly opposed to what they scorn as “Obamacare.” It could mean exposing businesses to Internal Revenue Service penalties and leaving low-income…
Nearly 418,000 South Carolinians Will Be Eligible for New Health Insurance Premium Tax Credits in 2014
New Report Provides County-Specific Breakdown of Tax Credit Eligibility by Income, Age, Race and Ethnicity, Employment Status Press Release: Families USA Washington, D.C.— A report released today says that in 2014 nearly 418,000 South Carolinians will be eligible for premium tax credits that will help them pay for health coverage—a…
Free market trumps concerns over expansion
Rock Hill HeraldMarch 23, 2013 By Frank Knapp Jr. — Special to The Herald Why do so many of our state’s officials not believe in our free market economy? That is the question I keep asking myself every time a state official dismisses the benefits of expanding Medicaid to low-income…
Without Medicaid Expansion, Employers Face Higher Tax Penalties Under ACA
Study By Brian Haile Senior Vice President for Health Policy Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. Key Findings States that do not expand Medicaid leave employers exposed to higher “shared responsibility” payments under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The associated costs to employers could total $876 million to $1.3 billion each…
New AARP Survey Shows Support for Medicaid and Medicaid Expansion in South Carolina
(Columbia) A new AARP survey of 800 South Carolina residents 45+ shows that almost 70 percent feel that when compared to other government programs, Medicaid is very to extremely important. Moreover, 57 percent of 45 to 64 year-olds surveyed disagree with Gov. Nikki Haley’s refusal to accept federal funds to…
Medicaid Expansion Testimony, Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
S.C. Senate Medical Affairs Affordable Care Act Subcommittee Prepared remarks Frank Knapp Jr. President & CEO, South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce ——————————————————————————————— Senators, I want to report a hijacking. Today we are told by Mr. Haislmaier (Heritage Foundation) that the issue of whether South Carolina should expand Medicaid…
T-4 to Austerity
Obamacare haters are on the verge of finally having some success in stopping the implementation of the healthcare reform. If the sequester’s automatic budget cuts go into effect this Friday, federal spending on three of the components of teh Affordable Care Act will be impacted. Less money will be available…
The ACA Toolbox for Health Reform: What State Health Leaders Aren’t Telling the General Assembly
February 5, 2013 by The Ruoff Group The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides health policymakers with a robust set of tools to accomplish important changes to both bring costs under control and improve our health and health care. The coverage expansion which ensures affordable access to this new, high performance…