Free Republic

Xavier Becerra has had one health-care cause near and dear to his heart during his three decades in public life: making taxpayers pay for health coverage to illegally present foreign workers.At his confirmation hearings this week before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and Senate Finance Committees, Secretary of Health and Human Services-designee Xavier Becerra will talk about many subjects. Press reports prior to the hearings indicate he will highlight his claimed efforts as a member of Congress “to strengthen and modernize Medicare and how we finance it”—ironic claims from someone who voted for an Obamacare law that raided...

Last week, I reported on two myths about socialism. My new video covers three more. Myth No. 3: Socialism works if it's "democratic." As the Democratic Socialists of America put it, "Society should be run democratically -- to meet public needs, not to make profits for a few." Sounds nice. If socialists are elected, then we'll have a more just society. But Venezuela's socialists were elected. "They can start off democratically elected," says economist Ben Powell, director of the Free Market Institute at Texas Tech, but "once they centralize control over the economy, it becomes impossible to 'un-elect' them." Hugo...

The extreme and continued Covid-19 government mitigation mandates are unprecedented for any respiratory virus in our history. The economic consequences of these directives – masks; social distancing; testing, tracking and quarantines; travel, school and business restrictions − have led to historic levels of job losses and failing businesses. People looking for work have been crippled from finding jobs. Tens of millions of Americans are at risk of losing their group health insurance. As Americans grow increasingly more desperate, the government continues to restrict peoples’ options. The CARES Act epitomized the tenet of redistribution of wealth, growing the numbers of Americans...

Our American medical system with its deep pool of highly trained specialists, the best in the world when it accrued inside a culture of science and learning, is Humpty Dumpty falling off the wall. It has had to focus its priority away from the doctor-patient relationship and more toward appeasing ever-expanding federal and bureaucratic control. Doctors and patients are pawns caught in a game of power. All the king's horses and all the king's men, so they say...but is there any way to save the best parts of our health care? As the federal government hurtles toward a Medicaid-for-all system,...

Under a 2010 law, bills that add to the debt trigger automatic cuts. And preventing them would require Republican support. WASHINGTON — Democrats considering a maneuver to forgo bipartisan support to pass Covid-19 relief are confronting an unintended consequence: Doing so could automatically cut Medicare. Many Democrats want to pass President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief proposal, which includes $1,400 stimulus checks and aid to local governments. A group of Republican senators is pushing for a smaller plan that would provide $1,000 checks. So Democratic leaders are preparing to use a process known as budget reconciliation, which would allow...

Big Pharma did not like Donald Trump, but they certainly like Joe Biden – especially now. In an ongoing frenzy to undo everything Trump did over the last four years, Joe Biden froze a December rule aimed at lowering prescription drug prices for insulin and epinephrine. On Thursday, Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services announced the new rule would be put on hold, along with several other Trump-era orders pending a 60 day review, The Federalist reports. Biden Chief of Staff Ron Klain directed federal agencies on Wednesday to pause orders that had been signed and published by Trump’s...

The Trump administration recently finalized two rules meant to reduce Medicare drug prices -- while ignoring some serious unintended consequences. For seniors, the rules are a mixed bag. One will help patients save money at the pharmacy. But the other, the "most-favored-nation" rule, is likely to backfire, reducing access to treatments in the long run. The most-favored-nation rule prohibits Medicare from paying more for certain advanced medicines than the lowest price paid in other wealthy countries. It applies to physician-administered drugs, including treatments for osteoporosis, kidney disease and cancer. The list price of many of these drugs are deeply discounted...

Actress Susan Sarandon is calling on far-left lawmakers in Congress to refuse to vote for Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as House Speaker as a means to “force” Pelosi to bring a vote to the floor on Medicare for All. “I believe a better world is possible & at this moment we have a real shot at Medicare for All by fighting to #ForceTheVote, which is why I’ve joined the @PeoplesParty_US Advisory Council,” tweeted Sarandon on Monday. “I want a party that guarantees racial justice, economic justice, a livable climate — now that we’re in a catastrophe right now, free college, a...

I turned 65 in June and got on Medicare. I got the normal Medicare plans including Plan D, and optional Dental and Vision overage. Cost about $150 a total. I opted not to go Medicare Advantage at that time until and I could research it and see if it was all that was claimed. I recently talked to the Blue Cross rep here in Arkansas and after all my questions were answered and i knew my doctor was in the network I opted for a Advantage Plan, PPL plan for $49.00 a month and I am satisfied I made a...

My dear fellow FReepers, could you please help me to find the best coverage but most economial Medigap plan? I have fixed income with Social Security Disability and have basic Medicare, but do not qualify for Medicaid due to my spouse's income (have tried multiple times to get on Medicaid). I've been shopping for a myriad of plans, but would like to see about the best one, Blue Cross Blue Shield--which I am about to further investigate. Thank you my beloved FRiends!

Hospitals will be allowed to care for Medicare patients in their own homes during the pandemic under a government program announced Wednesday to help hospitals deal with the latest surge. ...The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it will let hospitals quickly launch home programs...Hospitals would need to meet certain standards to participate. Those include providing twice-daily visits by medical workers and equipment such as blood pressure and oxygen-level monitors, and keeping patients connected via an iPad or other device to a command center ...

Welcome to the weekend Poland's constitutional court rules Thursday that abortions are illegal in case of "fetal deformity" leaving only three legal reasons for abortion in Poland rape, incest of the life of the mother... When it comes to the issue of healthcare in the USA what you need to know is that government involvement in healthcare is the root of the evil of its high cost... Newsdump Update-Ceasefire Agreed In Libya Conflict Newsdump Update-Belarus Opposition Deadline Tomorrow-Secretary Of State Mike Pompeo Talks By Phone With Belarus Ruler Alexander Lukashenko-Warning To Americans In Belarus... Newsdump Update: France Islam Terrorism Turkey...

While not as prominent an issue during the first presidential debate as racial tensions, COVID-19, and the post-coronavirus economic recovery, both candidates made a point of promoting their health care agendas while criticizing their opponent's. Trump accused Biden of supporting "Medicare for All" and offering a plan that would "extinguish 180 million people with their private health care." Biden vehemently denied the accusations and argued that his plan "is not" going to end private insurance and called the president a "liar." Biden's plan, which he fervently advocated during the debate, would provide everyone with the option of enrolling in a...

Assistant U. S. Attorney Valerie Chu (619) 546-6750NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – September 30, 2020SAN DIEGO – Federal officials today announced a historic nationwide enforcement action involving 345 charged defendants across 51 federal districts, including more than 100 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals located in San Diego and across the country.These defendants have been charged with submitting more than $6 billion in false and fraudulent claims to federal health care programs and private insurers, including more than $4.5 billion connected to telemedicine, more than $845 million connected to substance abuse treatment facilities, or “sober homes,” and more than...

President Trump has pulled the trigger on actually lowering prescription drug prices. By ending arbitrary trade barriers he could save Americans over $50 Billion a year. Even staunch believers in free-market capitalism recognize that there are areas where the government is required to put on a striped shirt and play the referee. Republicans going back to Teddy Roosevelt have understood that. Especially when companies have acquired monopoly powers. President Roosevelt ruffled feathers among Wall Street tycoons when he launched his effort to break up the trusts. Trusts that were abusing their market power, creating monopolies. American consumers were being harmed...

President Trump on Sunday signed an executive order moving Medicare one step closer to a "most favored nation" drug pricing system, instructing the government health care program for seniors to develop and test paying the same drug prices as other developed countries with cost controls. "It is the policy of the United States that the Medicare program should not pay more for costly Part B or Part D prescription drugs or biological products than the most-favored-nation price," Trump's order declares. The memo defines the most-favored-nation price as "the lowest price, after adjusting for volume and differences in national gross domestic...

Joe Biden has been on the floor of the Senate talking about the need to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans’ benefits. This is where laws are defined. His comments on the Senate floor are likely his true position, since they are made when laws are being finalized. In the debates, Biden flatly denied he made these comments. Compare the videos and judge for yourselves.WATCH BIDEN COMMENTS ON FLOOR OF SENATE & Biden denying them at a debate......

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way a lot of people live — and not necessarily for the better. All of this upheaval could cause you to make some very poor choices with regard to your healthcare, and that’s a good way to lose money and compromise your health at a time when you can’t afford to. With that in mind, here are three Medicare mistakes to avoid at all costs during the ongoing crisis.1. Not signing up on timeHealth coverage under Medicare begins at age 65, and you can enroll up to three months prior to the month...

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump signed executive orders Saturday for coronavirus economic relief, upending negotiations with Congress after lawmakers failed to reach a deal on Friday. The executive orders establish a payroll tax holiday through the end of the year for Americans earning less than $100,000 a year. They also defer student loan payments through the end of the year; continue eviction moratoriums; and extend enhanced unemployment benefits that expired last week, but at a reduced level of $400 instead of the prior $600. "If I'm victorious on November 3rd, I plan to forgive these taxes and make permanent cuts...

President Trump says he will sign an Executive Order to ease the suffering of those harmed by the pandemic-related shutdowns and to stimulate the economy. Congress has failed to agree on a new package to accomplish these things. Trump’s Executive Order would include these four components: (1) a payroll tax holiday until the end of the year, (2) an extension of enhanced unemployment benefits until the end of the year, (3) an extension of the eviction moratorium for federal subsidized housing, and (4) a suspension of student loan payments until further notice. Questions surround the legality of accomplishing at least...