Healthcare Digest 5/23: Send a Kid to College or Pay for Healthcare: What's it Gonna Be?

Oof. I had never seen it compared this way, but: “The total cost [of healthcare] for a typical family was still more than the cost of one year at an in-state public college, according to consulting and actuarial firm, Milliman.”

That comes from a Wall Street Journal blog that is a little frustrating not because it’s a Wall Street Journal blog (because I’m pretty much always frustrated with the Wall Street Journal), but because it highlights part of the media issue around healthcare spending all of us are currently dealing with: Some weeks, the news is the cost of healthcare is on the downswing. This time, it’s on the upswing. It all depends on the argument being made and the person making the argument.

In the Wall Street Journal’s case, it’s using this data point to suggest that the Affordable Care Act is a bum deal because: prices. Of course, we’re not in the full swing of the ACA; it might be a little early. And also: this is the first time we’ve done this in this country: there are going to be some bumps along the way.

Thursday’s Headlines

Dust Off That Healthcare Innovation Idea You’ve Kept in the Closet Next to Those Tank Tops You Shouldn’t Be Wearing: “The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will spend as much as $1 billion on a second round of innovation awards for projects that show strong potential to reduce costs and improve care for Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) patients outside hospital environments.” [informationWeek]

Did You Guys Know That There Will Be Sweeping Changes When the Affordable Care Act is Implemented?: This guy didn’t think you knew: “January 1, 2014 marks another important date in the rollout of the new healthcare reform. ’2014 is what everybody has been scared about as that is the full implementation date,’ said Tom Goedde, benefits group manager for AHM Financial Group, during his presentation to trucking fleet executives at the 2013 CCJ Spring Symposium in Birmingham, Ala. ‘The big term is going to be ‘shared responsibility’, shared responsibility for individuals and for companies and corporations.’” [CCJ Digital]

Should the IRS OVersee the Affordable Care Act?: “There’s a growing concern about the competency of the IRS and its ability to oversee Obamacare.” Oh really? Do go on… [WOAI.com]

Read Anyone’s Healthcare Records Lately?: “In the digital age, more and more private information is becoming less private.” [News10.net]

Happy Birthday, Anton Mesmer!: No link or anything. I just think that guy’s kinda neat. Email me if you wanna know about the connection between Charles Dickens and Anton Mesmer or if you want to talk about how great Joan Acocella is.