The Unmasking of ObamaCare

As Americans Learn More about the Hidden Costs of ObamaCare, The Less They Like It

One year ago today, at the height of the healthcare debate, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi famously claimed in defense of ObamaCare that “we have to pass the bill so you can find out what’s in it”:

PELOSI: “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.”(David Freddoso, “Pelosi on Health Care: ‘We Have to Pass the Bill So You Can Find Out What Is In It,” The Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog, 3/9/2010)

But now that voters are finding out, they’re less than pleased. Small businesses have been up in arms for months over 1099 reporting requirements under the law, and just today, a Wall Street Journal report indicates that doctors and pharmacies are also facing new paperwork burdens that drive up healthcare costs:

“Patients are demanding doctors’ orders for over-the-counter products because of a provision in the health-care overhaul that slipped past nearly everyone’s radar. It says people who want a tax break to buy such items with what’s known as flexible-spending accounts need to get a prescription first.

“The result is that Americans are visiting their doctors before making a trip to the drugstore, hoping their physician will help them out by writing the prescription. The new requirements create not only an added burden for doctors, but also new complications for retailers and pharmacies.

“‘It drives up the cost of health care as opposed to reducing it,’ says Dr. [Sandy] Chung, who rejected much of a 10-item request from a mother of four that included pain relievers and children’s cold medicine.” (Janet Adamy, “In Health Law, Rx for Trouble,” Wall Street Journal, 3/9/2011)

The Obama administration is nonetheless continuing to engage in deceptive accounting to mask ObamaCare’s costs by double-counting the law’s cuts to Medicare as both new spending and phony savings, which Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius finally admitted to doing during a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing Friday:

“‘There is an issue here on the budget because your own actuary has said you can’t double-count,’ said Shimkus. ‘You can’t count — they’re attacking Medicare on the CR when their bill, your law, cut $500 billion from Medicare.’

“He continued: ‘Then you’re also using the same $500 billion to what? Say your funding health care. Your own actuary says you can’t do both. […] What’s the $500 billion in cuts for? Preserving Medicare or funding the health-care law?’

“Sebelius’ reply? ‘Both.‘” (Amanda Carey, “HHS Secretary Sebelius Admits to Double-Counting in ObamaCare Budget,” The Daily Caller, 3/4/2011)

It’s no wonder then that even ObamaCare’s biggest supporters are trying to opt out. Unions have been disproportionately successful in earning ObamaCare waivers, receiving 26 percent of the 1,040 waivers issued to date despite composing only 12 percent of the workforce:

“Although House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Fred Upton, Michigan Republican, is about to launch a congressional investigation into Obamacare waiver selection, the administration continues to approve waivers from health-care law for labor unions and others. In fact, since Upton first requested documentation from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in late January, the administration has issued 307 more Obamacare waivers, 47 of which for labor unions. That brings the total number of waivers to 1,040. Labor unions received 269 of those.

“That means unions received about 26 percent of all waivers the administration has given out, but only about 12 percent of workers nationwide are unionized.” (Matthew Boyle, “Obama Administration Keeps Giving Out ObamaCare Waivers, Despite New Republican Spotlight,” The Daily Caller, 3/7/2011)

Despite its billing as a panacea for the nation’s healthcare ills, ObamaCare’s deep flaws and unintended consequences are leading the Obama administration to even grant waivers to entire states. Maine just won a waiver yesterday out of concerns ObamaCare would “destablize the state’s market for individual health insurance,” with Kentucky, New Hampshire and Nevada next in line:

“The federal government Tuesday granted Maine a waiver of a key provision in President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, citing the likelihood that enforcement could destabilize the state’s market for individual health insurance.” (David Sharp, “Maine Gets Break in Federal Health Care Overhaul,” Associated Press, 3/8/2011)

Support for repealing Obama’s government takeover of healthcare remains as high as ever. A new Rasmussen poll out this week showed that 54 percent of voters want to see a full repeal of ObamaCare:

“The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 54% favor repeal of the law, including 44% who Strongly Favor repeal. Thirty-nine percent (39%) oppose repeal of the law, including 31% who are Strongly Opposed.” (“Health Care Law: 54% Favor Repeal of Health Care Bill,”Rasmussen Reports, 3/7/2011)

Democrats, though, continue to stonewall any and all attempts to repeal and reform the law. When will Democrats finally listen to the American people and repudiate their job-destroying healthcare law?:

ONLY 3 DEMS JOIN GOP ON OBAMACARE REPEAL: Final Vote: 245-189 (House Vote #14, 1/19/2011)

PELOSI, 111 OTHER DEMOCRATS VOTE AGAINST REPEALING BURDENSOME 1099 REQUIREMENTS: Final Vote: 314-112 (House Vote #162, 3/3/2011)