Federal Health Care Plan
Posted by Gary O'Rielly
on Mar 02, 2012
Our guest speaker March 5, 2012 was Dr. Roger Stark of the Washington Policy Center. Dr. Stark is a member of the Rotary Club of Woodinville. Dr. Stark who has written a book about the Federal Health Care Plan was here representing the Washington Policy Center to discuss the impact of the plan on Washington State. His book cost around $9.50.
The Washington Policy Center addresses key issues facing our state. The Center is a non-partisan, free-market, state-based think tank in Seattle with offices in Olympia and Eastern Washington. The Center publishes studies, sponsors events and conferences, and educates citizens on public policy issues facing Washington State. The Center is committed to delivering the highest quality and most reliable research on Washington state issues. They guarantee that all original factual data are true and correct and that the information attributed to other sources is accurately represented.
The Washington Policy Center addresses key issues facing our state. The Center is a non-partisan, free-market, state-based think tank in Seattle with offices in Olympia and Eastern Washington. The Center publishes studies, sponsors events and conferences, and educates citizens on public policy issues facing Washington State. The Center is committed to delivering the highest quality and most reliable research on Washington state issues. They guarantee that all original factual data are true and correct and that the information attributed to other sources is accurately represented.
The federal law about health care has been titled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and is very unpopular with the general public. At no point in the history of the United States has such a broad based, wide-sweeping piece of legislation become law by such a very slim political margin. The new law will affect every person in Washington state.
Dr. Stark's presentation, focused on three key elements of the Federal Health Care Reform act. According to Dr. Stark, this was the most unique law ever passed and was done so on party-lines. When Medicare/Medicaid were passed in 1965 it was 137 pages with bi-partisan support. The new Federal Health Care Reform Act was 2,700 pages that included many mandates in the new law. Included in the new law is individual mandates. The Supreme Court will begin deliberations focusing on the mandates in the new law. The Court is expected to announce their decision this summer. Other mandates include employer mandates to cover all employees plus insurance company mandates.
Where do we stand now? This will be the largest tax increase ever which in turn will be passed on to the American consumers. According to the publication by the Washington Policy Center in 2011, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the minimum cost of the President's health care law will be over $940 billion over the first ten years. the largest part of the funding will come from $455 billion in cuts to the Medicare program. Included in this $455 billion are $155 billion to hospitals and $271 billion in cuts to doctors.
Assuming that the decision will be handed down by mid-summer, this could throw the national elections this fall upside down in the opinion of this writer. The program this week is another example of prime speakers for our meetings and James is to be complimented on getting these type of speakers, week in and week out. Great job, James. And a big Rotarian thanks to Dr. Roger Stark for a tremendous program this week. Click here for more information about the Washington Policy Center.