Press Releases
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April 10, 2012
St. Paul, Minn.—Which is more important? Standardizing care or ensuring a positive patient experience?
To patient advocate Twila Brase, president and co-founder of Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom, a patient-centered national health policy organization based in St. Paul, Minn., there shouldn’t be a trade-off. But new research shows that hospitals that adopt strategies to meet government requirements see a decline in the quality of individual patient experiences.
Press Releases
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April 03, 2012
“The hearings last week will have a lasting impact on our quality of life, our freedoms and our system of health care in the U.S. ,” Brase said. “It has been decades since the Supreme Court decided a case that will impact so many Americans. History is being made in our lifetime and the only question now is how will the court rule and what will it mean for the future of freedom.”
Press Releases
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March 26, 2012
St. Paul, Minn.— Today, the Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act—or Obamacare—the controversial federal health care overhaul that patient advocates say takes away individual freedoms and, therefore, goes against the tenets of the U.S. Constitution.
Press Releases
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March 20, 2012
St. Paul, Minn.—In the inaugural case of its kind, a Missouri business owner is the first individual to sue the Department of Health and Human Services, saying its controversial contraceptive mandate violates his constitutionally-protected religious beliefs.
Press Releases
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March 13, 2012
St. Paul, Minn.— With the pending Supreme Court hearing on health care taking place in two weeks, much will be uncovered about Obamacare. President Obama and others compare the health insurance exchanges to the functionality of online airline bookings. Exchanges have been billed as online “marketplaces” where consumers can shop for the “best deal and the smartest health insurance plan.” These health insurance exchanges seem harmless on the surface. Federal officials are even offering to let each state create their own exchange, giving the impression that states will have control over the process.
Press Releases
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February 29, 2012
St. Paul, Minn.— Amicus briefs filed with the Supreme Court regarding the controversial federal healthcare law—the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare—are very telling in regards to how the public and patient advocates feel about the plan.
Press Releases
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February 22, 2012
St. Paul, Minn.—Twila Brase, president and co-founder of Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF), a patient-centered national health policy organization based in St. Paul, Minn., was recently honored by the Wisconsin State Senate for her work to protect patient rights.
Press Releases
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February 21, 2012
St. Paul, Minn.— A week after the Obama Administration seemingly “compromised” on the birth control mandate that created a nationwide religious liberty debate, Americans around the country are sending the message loud and clear that the issue is not one of contraception—but of conscience.
Press Releases
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February 20, 2012
On December 16, 2011, the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight released the Essential Health Benefits Bulletin (Bulletin) that discusses how to define the essential health benefits package pursuant to section 1302(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). In providing this early guidance, the Secretary is opening a dialogue with states, consumers, and other stakeholders on the important issue of defining the Essential Health Benefits (EHB). We appreciate the opportunity to provide comments in response to the initial direction proposed in the Bulletin and look forward to a more thorough regulatory notice and comment process to finalize the EHB. Click to read letter.
Press Releases
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February 20, 2012
On February 16, 2012, Minnesota Rep. Joe Atkins (D-Inver Grove Heights) held a press conference to discuss the “Minnesota Insurance Marketplace Act” – HF 2290. There are 17 co-authors including three GOP House members: Tax Chairman Greg Davids (R-Preston), Health and Human Services Finance Chairman Jim Abeler (R-Anoka), and Commerce and Regulatory Reform Chairman Joe Hoppe (R- Chaska). The Senate bill, SF 1872, is authored by Sen. Tony Lourey and has no GOP co-authors.
Even though the words “exchange,” “health insurance exchange” and “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” are not used, the bill proposes to create Obama’s exchange using the language of “marketplace.” One study by Herndon Alliance published last year reported that “marketplace” was a good word to use to discuss the exchange, especially with “anti-government/anti-health law” folks.
