Still reeling from the negative publicity swirling around the remarks of Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber, even more challenges lie ahead in 2015 for Obama’s signature agenda item, the Affordable Care Act.
Unlike Gruber’s remarks—which were, however negative, more or less hypothetical in nature—in 2015 the challenges for Obamacare are real and more than a bit tricky.
Employer mandate goes into effect
After years of delays, businesses with at least 100 employees will be forced to offer insurance for the first time in 2015.
Business groups have lobbied hard against the controversial rule, which they have called a major headache that will force layoffs and less hours for workers…
Fines levied for individual mandate
Most Americans have been required to have health insurance since January 2014, but the financial penalties for those who ignored the mandate will only go into effect during tax season this spring.
Each person without insurance will pay $95 or 1 percent of their income, whichever is higher.
The list of challenges continues, and to say they are significant is an understatement. With Obama’s approval numbers having already been suffering, voter opinions of what is plainly seen as a Democrat program could make 2016 an even more challenging year for Democrats, than 2015 is going to be for Obamacare.
Primary care doctors face pay cut
Family doctors who treat Medicaid patients will see steep drops in payments from the federal government that could make it tougher for millions of low-income people to find care.
Reimbursements from Medicaid will shrink an average of 43 percent starting in January, when the federal government’s temporary raise for primary care doctors is set to expire…
Medicare doctors fined for not using e-records
More than 270,000 doctors and 200 hospitals nationwide will see funding cuts from Medicare next year for failing to meet new government requirements for electronic medical records…
CHIP funding set to expire
A 27-year program that has helped millions of children gain insurance is set to end next year without new steps from Congress.
Under ObamaCare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, is reauthorized until 2019 but only funded through September of next year.
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