Free Republic

In a letter to Rep. Bruce Braley, the Congressional Budget Office further explains some of its analysis regarding the effects of medical malpractice reform on health costs and health outcomes. The letter as a whole is worth reading for a number of reasons, but one point stuck out to me. Pessimists regarding malpractice reform have pointed out that it would save the federal budget only around $54 billion over ten years. I say “only” because this is nevertheless almost half as much as the entire Senate health bill would purportedly save, even leaving aside well-justified uncertainties regarding whether the Senate...

The White House says the president's plan would mean savings for 80% of Americans. He proposed a standard deduction of $15,000 for families ($7,500 for individuals) for insurance. He proposed also that a benefit over $15,000 from a company would be considered taxable income. In Michigan, that means some state employees may be subject to more taxes. They pay a 5% premium on plans that do approach, and sometimes pass that $15,000 value. Executive VP of SEIU Local 517M, Phillip Thompson, says most plans are worth between $7,000 and approximately $16,000. "State employees have picked up deductible and copays," Thompson...