Entitlement Programs Turned 45… and No One Celebrated
The Medicare and Medicaid programs were established under Title XIX of the Social Security Act of 1965, which was signed into law on July 30, 1965. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the legislation in Independence, Missouri at the Truman Library with former President Truman (the champion of both causes) sitting beside him. However, it wasn’t until July 1, 1966, that Americans were eligible to start receiving the benefits.
Throughout their 45 years, these programs have experienced many changes (mostly expansions). Although each alteration or addition has been designed to assist those in need, good intentions and poor implementation have led to decades of irresponsibility, perverse incentives and unsustainable financial demands.
Gov. Perdue Vetoes Bill Addressing Medical Malpractice in NC
In an unsurprising move last week, Gov. Beverly Perdue vetoed SB33, the state Medical Malpractice bill. Many have speculated that the move was purely political, given that the bill was truly a bipartisan bill (11 democrats voted with the republicans in favor of the bill).
SB33 was designed to protect doctors and medical personnel from lawsuits that encourage medical personnel to request and perform procedures and tests that may be excessive, which drive up health care costs. These increased health care costs result from higher insurance fees and facility charges due to unnecessary procedures. They are referred to as "defensive medicine." The vetoed bill would have allowed recipients of health care malpractice to recover damages, such as lost wages and medical expenses, plus an additional $500,000 of "noneconomic damages," without financially ruining health care facilities and providers and discouraging defensive medicine.
Following the Governor’s veto, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) claimed that "No matter how [Gov. Perdue] spins it, a veto is a veto, and this one deals a severe blow to the state’s medical community and every citizen struggling to cope with the skyrocketing cost of health care."
Currently, a Senate veto over-ride for SB33 is very unlikely.
At Deadline GovernorVetoes Several More Bills
http://www.wral.com/news/state/nccapitol/story/9805164/
As We’ve Been Saying… States Will Not Meet Health Exchange Deadlines
http://free-american-healthcare.blogspot.com/2011/06/leavitt-most-states-wont-have-exchanges.html
