National insecurity
“Trump administration officials fired more than 300 staffers Thursday night at the National Nuclear Security Administration — the agency tasked with managing the nation’s nuclear stockpile — as part of broader Energy Department layoffs, according to four people with knowledge of the matter.
“Sources told CNN the officials did not seem to know this agency oversees America’s nuclear weapons.”
While pretending that all those fired were merely paper-pushers, the Administration hastily rescinded the firings.
It’s easy to understand the national security implications of overseeing the nuclear stockpile. But there are plenty of other threats to American national security:
• The Trump administration is busy blinding Americans to the next pandemic threat by hollowing out the CDC and blocking its reporting; recall that the COVID left EDs overflowing, with the infected competing with auto accident victims for emergency care;
• Congress is threatening ACA subsidies, which will leave millions uninsured; these folks will end up in EDs when they need care, and will be sicker when they do; hospitals, particularly small rural community hospitals, can’t afford to eat the costs and will close.
The American healthcare infrastructure is rickety and overpriced. In many areas, it is nearly impossible to get a primary care physician appointment in less than six months. Meanwhile, the Trump/Musk Administration is trying to shut down biomedical research, where the future treatments and cures are being developed.
National health is national security, too.
Trump/Musk is a threat to national security
“Sources told CNN the officials did not seem to know this agency oversees America’s nuclear weapons.”
While pretending that all those fired were merely paper-pushers, the Administration hastily rescinded the firings.
It’s easy to understand the national security implications of overseeing the nuclear stockpile. But there are plenty of other threats to American national security:
• The Trump administration is busy blinding Americans to the next pandemic threat by hollowing out the CDC and blocking its reporting; recall that the COVID left EDs overflowing, with the infected competing with auto accident victims for emergency care;
• Congress is threatening ACA subsidies, which will leave millions uninsured; these folks will end up in EDs when they need care, and will be sicker when they do; hospitals, particularly small rural community hospitals, can’t afford to eat the costs and will close.
The American healthcare infrastructure is rickety and overpriced. In many areas, it is nearly impossible to get a primary care physician appointment in less than six months. Meanwhile, the Trump/Musk Administration is trying to shut down biomedical research, where the future treatments and cures are being developed.
National health is national security, too.
Trump/Musk is a threat to national security
The ACA is hardly affordable or understandable for the very people is supposed to help. Here is just one example of “simplified” guidance about deductibles from 2019…
Guidance for FAQ regarding Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) Reconciliation Methodology and Simplified Methodology
Issued by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Issue Date: January 30, 2019
Program Area: CSR Reconciliation (CSR)
Question: Can the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clarify how issuers should implement the Simplified Methodology if an issuer has a plan design where the percentage of Essential Health Benefits (EHB) not subject to a deductible falls between 20 percent and 80 percent?
Answer: If the percentage of EHB not subject to a deductible is less than 80 percent, the issuer should apply the parameters for the regular simplified methodology. The parameters for HMO-like plans may only be used for plans or subgroups of plans with more than 80 percent of total allowed costs not subject to a deductible as discussed at 45 CFR 156.430(c)(4)(vi).
HHS is committed to making its websites and documents accessible to the widest possible audience, including individuals with disabilities. We are in the process of retroactively making some documents accessible. If you need assistance accessing an accessible version of this document, please reach out to the [email protected].
DISCLAIMER: The contents of this database lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law (including Medicare Advantage Rate Announcements and Advance Notices) or as specifically incorporated into a contract. The Department may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on the guidance repository, except to establish historical facts.
@Joe,
Thanks for the six year-old example. Got anything older?
This is why the feds were paying for ACA Navigators. Is the Trump Administration simplifying the ACA? No. It is cutting 90% of the budget for the Navigators who were helping the ca. 44 million people enrolled in the ACA deal with the system.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5146096-trump-administration-funding-slashed-obamacare-navigators/
Is that the best you can do? I admit, the health insurance industry in America is a total cluster #%*&% so the Dem solution is to spend $98 million trying to explain it rather than make it easy for layman to understand.
From your own link…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Friday announced health insurance navigators will receive just $10 million per year over the next four years. Navigators received $98 million in 2024.
CMS said the cut will allow the exchanges to focus on more effective strategies to improve outcomes and to reduce premiums for people who don’t qualify for subsidies.
The health agency justified the cut by noting navigators enrolled only 0.6 percent of plan selections on the federal exchange during the open enrollment period — at a cost of $1,061 per enrollment.
“Overall, Navigator performance data shows that the current level of funding does not represent a reasonable return on investment. These numbers indicate that Navigators are not enrolling nearly enough people to justify the substantial amount of federal dollars previously spent on the program,” CMS officials wrote in the announcement.
LOL! Is that the best you can do? From my link:
“But experts pointed to federal data showing that navigators were much more effective in enrolling people in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) last year, as they likely have more ties to lower-income communities. They helped enroll about 290,000 people in Medicaid and the CHIP.”
Heh.
BTW, that $98 million wasn’t to explain the entire health insurance industry in America. It was for ACA Navigators who were helping people with the ACA.