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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBoehner struggles with his failed ACA predictions
A dishonest pol; who'd a thunk it?
Posted with permission.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/boehner-struggles-his-failed-aca-predictions?cid=sm_fb_maddow
Boehner struggles with his failed ACA predictions
05/04/15 09:20 AM
By Steve Benen
House Speaker John Boehner sat down with NBCs Chuck Todd on Meet the Press yesterday, and the host asked a good question about the Republican leaders failed predictions about the Affordable Care Act. Regrettably, the Speaker couldnt respond with an equally good answer.
TODD: You made some dire predictions about health care. 2014 you said fewer people would have health insurance. According to plenty of surveys, more people have health insurance today than they did before it went down from the uninsured rate went down 17 percent to just under 12 percent. You said it would destroy jobs. The first year it was implemented, the country added 3 million jobs. Why
BOEHNER: Obamacare made it harder for employers to hire people. The economy expands and as a result, you are going to have more employees because businesses have to. But if you can ask any employer in America, and ask them whether Obamacare has made it harder for them to hire employees, theyll tell you yes. Because its a fact.
When you look at you know why there are more people insured? Because a lot more people are on Medicaid. And giving you know, we expanded Medicaid in a big way. And giving people Medicaid insurance is almost like giving them nothing. Because there arent you cant find a doctor that will see Medicaid patients.
BOEHNER: Obamacare made it harder for employers to hire people. The economy expands and as a result, you are going to have more employees because businesses have to. But if you can ask any employer in America, and ask them whether Obamacare has made it harder for them to hire employees, theyll tell you yes. Because its a fact.
When you look at you know why there are more people insured? Because a lot more people are on Medicaid. And giving you know, we expanded Medicaid in a big way. And giving people Medicaid insurance is almost like giving them nothing. Because there arent you cant find a doctor that will see Medicaid patients.
The Speaker soon added that, as far as hes concerned, the Affordable Care Act is not working.
Boehner might have a credible argument, if we abandoned the agreed upon meaning of working.
Look, I realize that health care policy has never been the Ohio Republicans strong suit, and the Speaker isnt a wonk deeply engaged in policy details. I can also appreciate why hes a little embarrassed about making all kinds of ACA predictions, each of which turned out to be wrong. Its just not realistic to think Boehner will fess up on national television to getting the entire fight over health care backwards.
Theres just no avoiding the fact, however, that Boehners comments on Meet the Press were woefully incorrect.
According to the Speaker, its a fact that the Affordable Care Act has made it harder for employers to hire people. Theres simply no evidence to support this. None. The U.S. economy saw a jobs boom coincide with the implementation of the ACA. Indeed, the reform law has actually created plenty of jobs within the health care industry by spurring unprecedented levels of entrepreneurial activity.
At the same time, Boehner believes the drop in the uninsured rate is the result of Medicaid expansion, but thats wrong, too millions of consumers have gained private coverage by way of exchange marketplaces. This is even true of the Speakers home state of Ohio, which is prepared to create its own exchange if the Supreme Court makes it necessary.
As for the benefits of Medicaid, coverage through the program is not the practical equivalent of nothing. Many Americans whove gained health security through Medicaid have benefited greatly from affordable care.
Boehners conclusion that Obamacare is not working is only true if one closes their eyes, sticks their fingers in their ears, and refuses to consider the evidence. The law is pushing the uninsured rate to new lows; its succeeding in satisfying consumers; the laws price tag is lower than expected; its producing impressive results on premiums and enrollment totals; were seeing the lowest increase in health care spending in 50 years; the number of insurers who want to participate in exchange marketplaces keeps growing; theres reduced financial stress on families, the efficacy of Medicaid expansion is obvious, as is the efficacy of the medical-loss ratio and efforts to reduce medical errors system-wide.
The maligned law is even becoming more popular.
Boehner doesnt have to like the law. He doesnt even have to admit he was wrong. But he should at least be prepared to discuss the issue honestly.
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Boehner struggles with his failed ACA predictions (Original Post)
babylonsister
May 2015
OP
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)1. K&R nt
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)2. Admit it Boner, the GOP Party hates the general welfare of Americans.