Health Law Lacks Pizzazz In Spite of  Chicago Jazz

An attractive and exciting vitality, especially when combined with style and glamour.

Definition of Pizzazz

April 18, 2012 – In my April 13 post, “Health Reform Law Implementation and All That Jazz, The Chicago Way, “ I asserted the Obama administration was trying to force-feed  its law to the public even though  the law might  fail  and fall in the Supreme Court and the November election. 

In response to my  assertion,   a reader commented, “Apparently the Connecticut way is to distort and engage in ad hominem attacks.”

Perhaps so, I've been wrong before.    But perhaps I represent  reality too.  Perhaps  the health law  lacks Pizzazz outside the Beltway and Obama campaign headquarters in Chicago. 

At least that’s how I interpret these two news releases from Kaiser Health News,  an editorially independent, neutral organization.

Apr 17, 2012 -   Kaiser Health News

Politico Pro: Survey: ACA Regs Worry Small-Business Owners

A new survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce finds that health care regulations rank at the top of the list of small business owners' concerns -- even though the Obama administration has been trying to sell the health care reform law as relief for small businesses. In a first quarter small-business outlook study by the Chamber -- which opposes the Affordable Care Act -- 38 percent of small-business executives surveyed said health care related regulations are the most challenging ones that they face. In addition, 73 percent of those surveyed said the health care law is proving an obstacle to hiring more employees for their business (Smith, 4/16).

National Journal: Are ACOs Already Over?

Last week the federal government announced it had signed up 27 hospital and doctor groups to participate as accountable care organizations, one of the health reform law's great cost-saving hopes. The number is well under federal projections from October, which predicted up to 270 groups would sign up to become Medicare accountable care organizations, or ACOs. The ACO program pays bonuses to doctor and hospital groups if they successfully coordinate care and improve health outcomes for certain Medicare patients. The groups can eventually lose money from the federal government if they don't meet those standards (McCarthy, 4/16).”

Tweet:  Small business owners are hesitant to hire and physicians and hospitals are reluctant to form ACOs because of Obamacare.regulations.