The Family Smoking and Prevention Tobacco Control Act Tobacco became law in June 2009 and gave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of all tobacco products. On May 5, 2016, the FDA finalized a rule that brought all tobacco products under its authority, including Electronic Nicotine Delivery […]
The House of Representatives and the Senate are vigorously working to pass a tax reform package before the end of the year. Both the House and Senate passed their budget resolutions with reconciliation instructions by Thanksgiving, a necessary step in order to craft their respective tax reform packages. The entire House passed their tax reform […]
Since its establishment in 1965, the federal government and the states have jointly administered Medicaid. The program’s characteristics and logistics vary from state to state, and there is always some give-and-take between the states and the feds. States want more flexibility; the federal government wants to make sure states are complying with the law. One […]
On Wednesday, November 1, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new rule that will lower costs to taxpayers and Medicare beneficiaries for certain outpatient pharmaceuticals purchased under the 340B drug discount program. According to CMS Administrator Seema Verma, “As part of the President’s priority to lower the cost of prescription […]
On November 7, 2017, Mainers will head to the polls to vote on four ballot measures, including Question 2, which would expand Medicaid in the state to cover able-bodied adults without children whose income is equal to or less than 138 percent of the federal poverty line. In an off-year election, not many will vote; […]
Today, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), held a press conference to engage in their usual screed against pharmaceutical companies and provide a “solution” to lower drug costs in Medicare Part D. Rep. […]
Late Thursday night last week, President Trump announced his administration would stop providing Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSRs) payments to insurers. What are CSRs? They are subsidies, or reimbursements, given to insurers by federal taxpayers for issuing reduced deductibles and copayments to low-income individuals that participate in the Obamacare exchanges. CSRs are not payments given directly to […]
When politicians decide to tax something new, taxpayers rarely see the end of it. This adage is especially true of so-called “sin taxes,” levies on products like alcohol, tobacco, and, increasingly, soda. Those in government always appreciate more money, and politicians like beating up on unpopular industries. It’s a two-pronged argument: you shouldn’t be buying […]
Today, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO), “Promote Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States,” with the goals of bringing financial relief and more healthcare choices to millions of Americans. Since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, was signed into law, Americans have seen their health insurance options limited while […]
Individuals who are not on Social Security at age 65 are supposed to sign up for Medicare anytime between three months before their 65th birthday and three months thereafter. I turn 65 on January 9, 2018, and thought I should get an early start by checking everything out exactly three months before that date. After […]
