Comments on: Taxing the Sick http://healthblog.ncpa.org/taxing-the-sick/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bart Ingles http://healthblog.ncpa.org/taxing-the-sick/comment-page-1/#comment-44047 Bart Ingles Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:39:50 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=4348#comment-44047 I think of HSA's as a sort of Band-Aid (albeit an effective one) to an extremely bad tax policy. So my primary concern still has to be to fix the tax system itself. I think of HSA’s as a sort of Band-Aid (albeit an effective one) to an extremely bad tax policy. So my primary concern still has to be to fix the tax system itself.

]]> By: Larry C. http://healthblog.ncpa.org/taxing-the-sick/comment-page-1/#comment-44016 Larry C. Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:49:07 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=4348#comment-44016 It's penny wise and pound foolish. OTC drugs are generally cheaper than other drugs. They help lower the cost of health care. It’s penny wise and pound foolish. OTC drugs are generally cheaper than other drugs. They help lower the cost of health care.

]]> By: Linda Gorman http://healthblog.ncpa.org/taxing-the-sick/comment-page-1/#comment-44012 Linda Gorman Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:42:55 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=4348#comment-44012 Does this mean the feds will also stop paying for over-the-counter meds for people without HSAs? It pays the Medicaid match for payments for OTC drugs in a number of states, and for OTC drugs in the VA formulary. The VA formulary includes OTC drugs like aspirin and A&D ointment. Simple fairness means that if an OTC drug is important enough to be listed in the VA formulary, it should be important enough to be an allowable HSA expenditure. Does this mean the feds will also stop paying for over-the-counter meds for people without HSAs? It pays the Medicaid match for payments for OTC drugs in a number of states, and for OTC drugs in the VA formulary. The VA formulary includes OTC drugs like aspirin and A&D ointment.

Simple fairness means that if an OTC drug is important enough to be listed in the VA formulary, it should be important enough to be an allowable HSA expenditure.

]]> By: Devon Herrick http://healthblog.ncpa.org/taxing-the-sick/comment-page-1/#comment-44010 Devon Herrick Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:48:23 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=4348#comment-44010 If this is Congress’ way of financing health reform, it seems rather petty and misguided. Hundreds of OTC drugs were once available only by prescription. Over-the-counter drugs cost about 90 percent less than comparable prescription drugs. Anything Congress does to inhibit the purchase of OTC drugs -- or reduce the likelihood of self-care -- will result in correspondingly higher-cost physician care and prescription drugs. If this is Congress’ way of financing health reform, it seems rather petty and misguided. Hundreds of OTC drugs were once available only by prescription. Over-the-counter drugs cost about 90 percent less than comparable prescription drugs. Anything Congress does to inhibit the purchase of OTC drugs — or reduce the likelihood of self-care — will result in correspondingly higher-cost physician care and prescription drugs.

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