2013
OP-ED COLUMNIST
Health Chaos Ahead
By DAVID BROOKS
Published: April 25, 2013 New York Times
Implementation got off to a bad start because the Obama administration didn’t want to release unpopular rules before the election. Regulators have been working hard but are clearly overwhelmed, trying to write rules that influence the entire health care sector — an economic unit roughly the size of France. Republicans in Congress have made things much more difficult by refusing to provide enough money for implementation.
Don’t you just love it. The Health and Human Services Department used up the funds provided and asked for more (right in the midst of sequester, etc.) and Republicans are the bad guys for not providing more money … it’s hard to believe even the NYTs would say that.
Let’s see, did Congress underfund, did HHS overspend, did supporters over promise? Probably yes and there is more to come. I spend several hours a day trying to keep up with all this and it’s impossible. The continuous flow of regulations is mind boggling. One thing is certain, this law is costing billions of dollars to implement and comply with in addition to what is being spent by government or accounted for in the law.
Employers, insurance companies, health care providers and related health industries are spending fortunes and using untold hours in compliance and will for years … all of which will come from consumer’s and employee’s pockets one way or the other, but hey, birth control pills are “free.”
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
So let’s see. Do we see any redeeming qualities to Obamacare outside of Increased cost to consumers, doctors, employers and related healthcare providers? Is the government way over it’s head in implementation costs? Are all or even most of the intricacies of the plan easily explained to the public (even you can’t figure it out and you are an expert)? Are all States in line to provide the required exchanges by this October? Do we really believe this program is beneficial to the Country as a whole?
Wouldn’t it have been better for both sides of the aisle to have sat down with experts from insurance carriers, healthcare centers (hospitals, some doctors and the like) to hammer out a plan that would help curb costs, pay bills more efficiently, assure equality in care disbursements and systemize it all so that most this administrative work could be accomplished via the web. Did I forget provide quality healthcare to as many Americans who need it?
I don’t think it ever their minds. It was all about politics and fulfilling a pre election commitment and putting something on the table that would generate votes. The health and welfare of the public had nothing to do with this program. But, you have to vote on it before you understand it. Oh, is that what she said, and look at what a mess we have to deal with now?
God help us come October.
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