Regular readers of this blog know I often criticize ObamaCare, formerly known as The Affordable Care Act of 2010. It was passed without a single Republican vote by the Obama administration and has failed to achieve its promoted goals of lowering the cost of healthcare and providing healthcare coverage for every American.

Democrats counter with their own criticism of Republicans, claiming they have no alternatives to offer. While this is certainly untrue, it is true that Republicans failed to deliver on their promise to abolish ObamaCare and replace it during the first two years of the Trump administration, thanks largely to rebel Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, who despised President Trump.

But now, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has passed three new bills to improve healthcare with bipartisan support. It’s up to the Senate now to see these bills become law.

Grace-Marie Turner, writing for Galen.org, gives us the details of these three new bills:

• By a big 320-71 bipartisan vote Monday night, the chamber passed the Lower Cost, More Transparency Act,a major team effort of the three major committees with jurisdiction over health policy issues—Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, and Ways and Means.
• The House passed in June a companion bill, the CHOICE Arrangements Act, that gives small businesses more options in providing health coverage and gives employees more flexibility in how they spend their health coverage dollars.
• On Tuesday, the House reauthorized opioid treatment and prevention programs through the SUPPORTAct, passed soon after a Senate health committee passed its own version of the measure.

She also notes that all three bills went through the normal legislative process, starting with subcommittee hearings to vet the details of the bills, and not via a huge, clumsy, opaque “omnibus” special bill that no legislator has time to read or consider. The three bills each incorporate numerous targeted bills sponsored by individual members.

She goes on to explain: “These are important milestones toward patient-focused health care.  Dozens of members worked together through the Healthy Futures task forces that began work in 2020 to set out an agenda for health reform and engage members in the details of policymaking.  The overall goal is to give people access to choices of more affordable health coverage and care in a revived market catering to their needs and preferences.”

How do these bills improve healthcare?

• The Lower Cost, More Transparency billrequires hospitals, health insurers, labs, and other providers to make accurate, accessible price information available to patients and consumers.  It addresses the obfuscation of drug prices by pharmacy benefit managers that can inflate prices and co-payments for patients, and would lower out-of-pocket costs for seniors who receive outpatient medications in a hospital-owned setting.
• The CHOICE Act (“Custom Health Option and Individual Care Expense Arrangement Act” or the “CHOICE Arrangement Act”) recognizes the difficulties small businesses have in providing health coverage to their workers and gives new options to businesses in vulnerable small group markets. The bill includes the Self-Insurance Protection Act and would codify access to more and more affordable coverage options through Association Health Plans.It also would codify and improve the Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements that would give employees more options of health coverage with tax-preferred dollars.
• The third vote reauthorizes the landmark SUPPORT Act(the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2023). All three bills build on Trump administration policies. President Trump signed the original substance abuse law in 2018 to address the nation’s opioid and mental health crises.  This legislation also has bipartisan support in the Senate.

The House of Representatives has now shown that there is bipartisan support for improving our healthcare. It’s time the Democratic-controlled Senate do the same for the sake of the America people. Let’s hope both sides can come together, even in an election year, to put the American people ahead of partisan politics.

Republicans hate ObamaCare – not a single member of their party in Congress voted for it. Democrats love ObamaCare – they all voted for it! But how well do these parties understand ObamaCare?

John C. Goodman, healthcare economist writing for Independent.org, says neither party really understands ObamaCare’s problems. He tells us in the House of Representatives, the GOP’s “number-one priority for health care reform” is lowering health insurance premiums.

What Republicans are Missing

It is certainly true that premiums in the ObamaCare exchanges are sky-high. In fact, if you add together the average premium and the average deductible for a family of four, a family without any subsidy must pay more than $25,000 before it gets any benefit from their plan! That’s the equivalent of buying a Volkswagen Jetta every year just to get health care.

However, Goodman points out that the vast majority of folks who buy their own insurance are getting large subsidies. So much so, that 8 in 10 enrollees in the exchanges pay $10 a month or less. For a family with average income, the premium is usually zero. That means 80% of the voters who are on ObamaCare don’t care about premium prices.

What Democrats are Missing

The Democrats think ObamaCare is all about protecting people with expensive health care problems. By eliminating disqualifications for preexisting conditions, millions of Americans are benefiting from ObamaCare.

But Democrats don’t understand that the average annual out-of-pocket exposure for a family in 2024 is $18,900 in the federal marketplace exchanges. And if health care problems linger (which is the very definition of “chronic illness”), the family faces that expense every year. To make matters worse, medical centers of excellence around the country (which house specialists that some patients really need) won’t accept ObamaCare insurance.

Goodman says the brutal truth is that families with the worst medical problems and the most expensive medical needs would in many cases be better off if ObamaCare had never become law! While there were some instances where people with preexisting conditions before ObamaCare were denied coverage, there were also risk pools in most states where their out-of-pocket exposure was well below ObamaCare plans today – and you had access to most doctors and hospitals.

The ObamaCare Reality

I wrote a book by this name, but that’s besides the point. Here’s the reality of ObamaCare today that both parties are missing: Goodman says, “If you have to buy your own insurance, have average income and are healthy, your options have never been better. But if you have a chronic illness and high medical costs, your options have never been worse.”

The healthy family not only is paying little or no premium, but the only health care they need is preventive care, which must be made available at no charge. For this family, health care and health insurance are free.

By contrast, if you are sick, the out-of-pocket costs can be crushing; and even then, narrow networks may not include the specialty care you need. Further, in almost all cases, if a patient goes out of the network, the insurance plan pays nothing. In that case, getting the care you need is just as expensive as if you were completely uninsured!

Republicans need to stop focusing on high insurance premiums, since most people are not paying them. Democrats need to stop crowing about coverage of preexisting conditions and do something about the sky-high out-of-pocket exposure for less than healthy families. Even if you have generous employer-provided coverage, the problems of ObamaCare are just one layoff away from your new reality.

Regular readers of this blog know I love to read. In 1998 I made the only New Year’s resolution I’ve ever kept by reading at least two books per month or 24 books for the year. I’ve kept that resolution for 26 years and have read over 1000 books in that time. (1051) That discipline has immeasurably brightened my life and increased my knowledge of this world we live in; much more than watching television ever could.

It’s become a tradition in recent years for me to publish my list of favorite books I read in the last year. These books are listed in no particular order, but only the best made the list.

1. The Wager – David Grann – This is a terrific book about the shipwreck of the H.M.S. Wager, a British war ship, that ran aground off the coast of South America in 1741. The fate of the ship’s crew should convince any doubters that man is basically evil and needs a Savior to overcome his sinful nature.
2. Red Handed – Peter Schweizer – A very insightful book by the six-time New York Times bestselling investigative journalist. Schweizer presents his most alarming findings to date by revealing the secret deals wealthy Americans have cut to help China build its military, technological, and economic might. Shocking!
3. Trust – Henry Cloud – A fascinating read that helps us all understand the basic currency of all human relationships is TRUST. This renowned psychologist has extensive experience with people in the business world and has used his training and talent to help many solve their human relationship challenges.
4. The Courage to Be Free – Ron DeSantis – As a Floridian, I especially enjoyed this autobiographical book about our Governor who is also a candidate for President. He has great leadership instincts and his success in Florida has made it the #1 state for immigration of Americans from other states.
5. Authentic Influencer – Jonathan Murphy – This is a wonderful book on the life of Barnabas, a leader in the early church, as recorded in the book of Acts. Dr. Murphy gives the reader 15 principles that we can learn from Barnabas to ensure we have a Godly influence on those around us.
6. American Prometheus – Kai Bird and Martin Sherwood – This book chronicles the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the Father of the Atomic Bomb, and was the inspiration for the recently released movie “Oppenheimer.” The movie doesn’t really do justice to the complexity of this poorly understood and savagely treated genius who made sure that America won the race to build the first atomic bomb.
7. Killers of the Flower Moon – David Grann – A fascinating read about a segment of our American history that few have heard before. It tells the true story of the murders of dozens of members of the Osage Indians of Oklahoma to steal their sudden wealth when oil was discovered on their tribal lands. It is another example of how men will react given the temptation to steal and even kill when there is no accountability. Also gives the history of the founding of the FBI.
8. Life is 10% What Happens to You and 90% How You Respond – Charles R. Swindoll – A Biblical view of how we tend to respond to life’s ups and downs and how the influence of Jesus in our lives can give us the power to overcome despair through faith. We learn how to make the best of whatever our circumstances.
9. Desert Star – Michael Connelly – If you’re a Harry Bosch fan like me, this book was a much-needed fix. Bosch teams with Renee Ballard to close some very old cold cases of the LAPD. Here’s hoping they’ll make more Bosch films for television.
10. Never Give an Inch – Mike Pompeo – A great read by this former CIA Director and Secretary of State during the Trump administration. He gives valuable insights into the operations behind the scenes of the Trump White House and the many successes they had in foreign policy during those years. Considering the multiple chaotic situations we’re facing now, it definitely gives you a feeling of nostalgia. It also makes you yearn for a leader like Pompeo who “won’t give an inch” when asked to compromise the mission or the principles that made this country great.

That’s it for this past year. I’m looking forward to many new great books in the year ahead. Happy New Year! May you have many happy hours of reading in the year to come.