‘In The News’ Archives
Pelosi Predicts Supreme Court will Back Healthcare Law
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi predicted on Tuesday that the Supreme Court will rule in favor of Obama's Healthcare Reform by a 6-3 vote, though she acknowledged that “you never know what the court will do.” “They were not big fans of the courts … until now,” said Pelosi, criticizing the Republican foes of the law for asking the [...]
An Unenviable Healthcare Choice for Conservatives
As the Supreme Court deliberates over the plan's fate, it's clear that Obamacare has, at best, tepid public support, but it currently looks a little like some sort of healthcare reform is probably inevitable no matter what the Supreme Court decides. A mandate is part and parcel of covering preexisting conditions for everyone. So, many opponents [...]
Private Equity Tax Break Won’t Apply to Healthcare Levy
The largest U.S. private-equity funds and venture capital firms have relied on a lobbying campaign to protect the carried interest tax break that has benefited fund managers. The private-equity industry has argued that carried interest should be taxed as investment income rather than wages because it encourages entrepreneurial risk-taking. But [...]
How JOBS Act Will Transform Retirement
The recently passed JOBS Act may very well be one of the more significant pieces of legislation relative to the future of planning and investing for retirement. It is designed to make it easier for small business to access investment capital and, by doing so, will create a new, Crowd-funding asset class as well as bringing self-directed IRAs out [...]
More Employers Tie Health Insurance to Medical Tests
These days, more employees are being asked to undergo medical tests, participate in disease-management programs, and quit smoking to qualify for hundreds, even thousands of dollars' worth of premium or deductible discounts. Proponents of these practices say it encourages healthier lifestyle choices by offering a financial incentive while [...]
Emergency Rooms Charges–Nonsensical?
"It's outrageous," said Phil Schwarzman, medical director of the emergency Department at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in reference to the absurd billing that many patients see after a visit to the emergency room. "I don't know where they're coming up with these numbers. Are they picking them out of a hat?" There is a lot of confusion out [...]
What Happens if Healthcare Reform is Repealed?
When asked about health care reform, Robert Laszewski, a health care industry consultant and former insurance executive said, "Many of us did not get the bill we wanted, but I think having to start over is worse than having to fix this." And now as the Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of the federal health care law, it's suddenly [...]
Biotech Lobbying Exceeds $40M in 3 years
Biotech companies with operations in California, home to one third of the nation's biotech firms, spent about $40 million in federal lobbying between 2009 and 2011. Nationwide, pharmaceutical, medical device and biotech industries spent a total of $700 million on campaign contributions and on lobbying Congress and the Obama administration [...]
Lost Data Could Affect CA’s Deptartment of Child Support Services
The names, Social Security numbers and other private records of about 800,000 adults and children went missing on four computer storage devices for the California Department of Child Support Services somewhere between Boulder, CO and Sacramento, CA this month. The storage devices contained addresses, driver's license numbers and the names of [...]
Tense Lull in D.C. as Nation Awaits Mandate Ruling
After three days of deliberations, the Supreme Court is now behind closed doors deciding the fate of Obamacare. On Friday, out of the sight of cameras, sketch artists and reporters along with the justices will hold one of their weekly conferences. And at the end of this meeting, they will have voted on all of the Affordable Care Act issues, [...]
