Subsidies to Nuclear Power in the Inflation Reduction Act
David Kemp andPeter Van DorenLast month, the United States enacted theInflation Reduction Act (IRA), purportedly to address rising inflation. In practice, though, the act mainly serves as a vehicle for some of President Biden ’s and the Democrat’s legislative priorities. The act includes many provisions to subsidize clean power plants, including nuclear generators.Many believe that nuclear is the perfect solution to climate change. It is a zero-carbon power source that is nearly constantly available unlike intermittent renewable sources, such as wind and solar. Ourrecent working paper examines the economics of nuclear ...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - September 28, 2022 Category: American Health Authors: David Kemp, Peter Van Doren Source Type: blogs
Taxes and Interstate Migration of Seniors
Chris EdwardsAmericans are moving from high ‐tax states to low‐tax states. The smart states know this and are cutting income tax rates, as discussed in the forthcomingFiscal Policy Report Card on America ’s Governors.One group that states want to attract with tax cuts are seniors and retirees. Just this year,10 states cut their taxes on retirement income, which means income from Social Security, defined ‐benefit (DB) plans, and defined contribution (DC) plans, such as 401(k)s. Currently, about three‐quarters of the states fully exempt Social Security benefits from taxes. About a dozen states fully ex...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - September 27, 2022 Category: American Health Authors: Chris Edwards Source Type: blogs
Three Troubling Provisions in the Senate EARN Act
Romina BocciaSeveral retirement savings bills are currently moving through the House and Senate. Among them is theEnhancing American Retirement Now (EARN) Act, which was introduced earlier in September by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D ‑OR) and Ranking Member Senator Mike Crapo (R‑ID). The bill offers a mixed bag of policies to amend the private retirement savings system. Among them are three troubling provisions. The bill would:Expand the welfare state by increasing eligibility for accounts that circumvent asset testsMake the saver ’s credit a refundable, matching contributionAllow employers to mak...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - September 27, 2022 Category: American Health Authors: Romina Boccia Source Type: blogs
Commentators and Journalists Weigh In On Digital Health And Related Privacy, Safety, Social Media And Security Matters. Lots Of Interesting Perspectives - September 27, 2022.
Conclusions:This study revealed strong and consistent patterns of association between digital health literacy and the use of a web-based PHR. The results indicate potential actions for promoting PHR uptake, including improving digital technology and skill experiences that may improve digital health literacy and willingness to engage in web-based PHR. Uptake may also be improved through more responsive digital services, strengthened health care, and better social support. A holistic approach, including targeted solutions, is needed to ensure that web-based PHR can realize its full potential to help reduce health inequities....
Source: Australian Health Information Technology - September 27, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Dr David G More MB PhD Source Type: blogs
Interstate Migration and Top Earners
Chris EdwardsMy newop ‐ed in theExaminer looks at the interstate migration of top ‐earning households. I argue that states such as New York lose a lot when their high taxes drive out top earners, including losing their incomes, investments in startups, and entrepreneurial and charitable activities.Many states are figuring this out, and myNRO op ‐ed last week discusses the recent wave of income tax cutting. While the leaders of monopoly Democratic states, such as New York, seem oblivious to the chronic damage their states are suffering from out ‐migration, leaders in states such as Iowa and Nebraska ar...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - September 26, 2022 Category: American Health Authors: Chris Edwards Source Type: blogs
The Illegality of Biden ’s Student Debt Cancellation Plan
ConclusionThe HEROES Act of 2003 is an implausible vehicle for a nationwide debt cancellation plan, and a careful examination of the act’s text reveals no clear congressional intent to authorize such a sweeping plan. The Biden administration’s student loan cancellation will be challenged in court by many plaintiffs, at least some of whom are likely to hav e standing. And when the action is challenged, it is likely to fall, just as several other dubious claims of statutory authority have fallen over the last two years. (Source: Cato-at-liberty)
Source: Cato-at-liberty - September 26, 2022 Category: American Health Authors: Thomas A. Berry Source Type: blogs
Weekly Australian Health IT Links – 26 September, 2022.
Here are a few I have come across the last week or so. Note: Each link is followed by a title and a few paragraphs. For the full article click on the link above title of the article. Note also that full access to some links may require site registration or subscription payment.General Comment-----I have to say the first article calls into question just how the Feds have been procuring IT and what implications there are for Federal Digital Health – a worry!Otherwise a few other good ones as well!-----https://itwire.com/government-tech-news/government-tech-policy/audit-office-releases-scathing-report-on-dta-s-ignoring-of-p...
Source: Australian Health Information Technology - September 26, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Dr David G More MB PhD Source Type: blogs
The Senate EARN Act Would Expand the Welfare State
Romina BocciaTheEnhancing American Retirement Now (EARN) Act includes a troubling provision that has received very little media coverage.An ABLE account amendmentwould increase spending on means-tested welfare programs by circumventing federal asset tests.When the original ABLE Act emerged back in 2014, my then-colleague at the Heritage Foundation, Robert Rector, and Iwrote:While the upfront cost of the ABLE Act is not enormous by Washington standards, the precedent of weakened asset limits in multiple welfare programs may well lead to huge costs in the future. Welfare spending did not balloon to nearly $1 trillion dollars...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - September 23, 2022 Category: American Health Authors: Romina Boccia Source Type: blogs
Tax Differences Between Cities
Chris EdwardsThere are large differences in tax burdens between states. New York and Florida provide a good illustration because their populations are similar. In 2019, state and local governments in New York imposed$192 billion in taxes, which was more than double the $86 billion imposed by governments in Florida.More evidence on large tax differences comes a study by the District of Columbia. It compares state and local taxes on hypothetical households in the largest city in each state and D.C. The study includes sales, property, individual income, and automobile ‐related taxes. It does not include federal taxes...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - September 22, 2022 Category: American Health Authors: Chris Edwards Source Type: blogs
PragerU ’s Video “Who Cares about Illegal Immigration?” Has Numerous Problems
Alex NowrastehPragerU recently released a video by podcaster and influencerWill Witt titled “Who Cares about Illegal Immigration?” PragerU has releasedimmigrationvideos before that also have serious factual errors that support dubious conclusions, one of which I ’vecritiqued. Their newest video is no exception. Below I will block quote a few of Witt’s statements and respond.Did you know that we are, in effect, adding a new city the size of Philadelphia to our country every year? That’s how many illegal immigrants came into the United States in 2021 and will in 2022.Border Patrol and the Office of Field Ope...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - September 22, 2022 Category: American Health Authors: Alex Nowrasteh Source Type: blogs
The Macro View – Health, Economics, and Politics and the Big Picture. What I Am Watching Here And Abroad.
September 22, 2022 Edition-----We will see the closure on the Mourning Period for QE!! In Australia tomorrow, We can then move on to the next big issue, which will surely be the progress in the Russo-Ukrainian war and the associated issues with China and Russia.The US seems – with the rest of the world – to be moving into recession.King Charles has now been to all his UK Realms and will now quietly let PM Trass get back to running the UK. God help her …In Australia we have to now get on with life and the economic disaster we seem to be facing.-----Major Issues.-----https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/oddly-enough-th...
Source: Australian Health Information Technology - September 22, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Dr David G More MB PhD Source Type: blogs
The Macro View – Health, Economics, and Politics and the Big Picture. What I Am Watching Here And Abroad.
September 15, 2022 Edition-----The death of QE2 has rather dominated the news for the last week or so and will probably pass after the funeral today.Otherwise the war in Ukraine seems to be in a turning phase. I hope that continues into the eventual getting rid of the Russians from Ukrainian territory!In OZ life goes on much as usual just awaiting the mourning period to pass,-----Major Issues.-----https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/what-australia-should-do-about-taiwan-20220904-p5bf7iWhat Australia should do about TaiwanCanberra cannot be silent if US policy on Taiwanese independence changes. Quiet diplomacy is cal...
Source: Australian Health Information Technology - September 15, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Dr David G More MB PhD Source Type: blogs
Start the Revolution without Us
BY KIM BELLARD
Well, as usual, there’s a lot going on in healthcare. There’s the (potential) Amazon – One Medical acquisition, the CVS – Signify Health deal, and the Walmart – United Healthcare Medicare Advantage collaboration. Alphabet’s just raised $1b. Digital health funding may be in somewhat of a slump, but that’s only compared to 2021’s crazy numbers. Yep, if you’re a believer that a revolution in healthcare is right around the corner, there’s a lot of encouraging signs.
But I was in a Walmart the other day, and my thought was, these people don’t look like they care much about a r...
Source: The Health Care Blog - September 13, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Bose-Roy Tags: Health Policy AP-NORC Healthcare Kim Bellard Source Type: blogs
What does CVS ’ s new deal signify about Medicare Advantage?
Each week I’ve been adding a brief tidbits section to the THCB Reader, our weekly newsletter that summarizes the best of THCB that week (Sign up here!). Then I had the brainwave to add them to the blog. They’re short and usually not too sweet! –Matthew Holt
Meanwhile, it’s time for Matthew’s tidbits. A quick moment’s thought of course for the Queen, her family and semi-loyal subjects, of which I am (sort of) one. In fact in the last 7 days my ancestral homeland of the UK has got a new King, a new prime minister and a new manager at Chelsea FC. Still, two of three of those changes seem to happen a...
Source: The Health Care Blog - September 12, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: matthew holt Tags: Health Tech The Business of Health Care Value-Based Care Health Care Tidbits Matthew Holt Medicare Advantage MedPAC Signify Health Source Type: blogs
The Macro View – Health, Economics, and Politics and the Big Picture. What I Am Watching Here And Abroad.
September 08, 2022 Edition-----In the US we are seeing the outcomes of Climate Change really of and running with droughts and fires etc. Biden amped up the partisan divide with a fiery anti-Republican speech!In Russia the last leader of Soviet Russia died.In the UK we have a new PM while in Europe the energy crisis is just getting worse.In OZ we have survived the Jobs and Skills Summit with 36 prearranged outcomes. Stage management +++ in action. The GP crisis is not being addressed fully and worries regarding the Global Economy - esp. China - worsen.-----Major Issues.-----https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/educati...
Source: Australian Health Information Technology - September 8, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Dr David G More MB PhD Source Type: blogs
