Should the federal government forgive medical debt?
 
CQ Researcher | Sally Pipes
July 29, 2022

Progressives claim that medical debt leads to financial ruin for hundreds of thousands of Americans each year.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., recently argued that the high cost of health care is pushing so many people into bankruptcy that the government must cancel medical debt. It’s the precursor to his call for a federal takeover of the entire health insurance system so that no one has to pay for medical care directly again.


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VA's problems show downside of government health care
 
Sarasota Herald-Tribune | Sally Pipes
July 28, 2022

In the fall of 2020, a patient in Augusta, Georgia, went to the local Veterans Affairs medical center for a minimally invasive urologic surgery, according to a new report from the VA’s Office of Inspector General.

Less than two weeks later, the OIG reports, he was dead. The inspector general concluded that there had been “multiple deficiencies” in the patient’s care. Among them: His doctor allegedly failed to account for his history of chest infections and alcoholism.


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Drug price controls would limit new medicines
 
Washington Examiner | Sally Pipes
July 26, 2022

The Democrats’ budget reconciliation bill is winding its way through the Senate.

Last week, Republican and Democratic senators met with the chamber’s parliamentarian to discuss whether the bill’s proposal for Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs with manufacturers has a direct impact on government spending or tax revenue, as reconciliation rules require.


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Hospitals must be more transparent about health care costs
 
Chicago Sun Times | Sally Pipes
July 28, 2022

Some Illinois hospitals are keeping their prices secret from their patients. Only three out of a sample of 11 major medical facilities in the state are fully compliant with a federal rule requiring hospitals to publish the costs of common services, according to data from the nonprofit group PatientsRightsAdvocate.org. That includes hospitals in Chicago.


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