In the latest Health Policy Outlook AEI health expert Scott Gottlieb, MD explains how a previously obscure government advisory panel now wields tremendous powers to decide which preventive health care services public and private insurance will cover.

Some consumers and businesses might see a little extra cash this summer as a result of the 2010 health care law. The Kaiser Family Foundation recently reported an estimated $1.3 billion in rebates will be delivered from health insurers who spent more than the law allotted on administrative expenses and profits.

Controls would take away the industry's incentive to develop new lifesaving medications and therapies.

Congress has made a serious error by limiting the control of banks to companies engaged in financial activities. Hopefully the FDIC will not follow suit.

The $2 billion loss at JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has reopened debate on the Volcker rule. The proponents of the rule have seized on the story as proof that the Volcker rule is necessary and should be quickly put into effect by regulation. In reality, however, if the facts are as thus far reported, what happened at JPMorgan is proof that the Volcker rule is unworkable and should be repealed. 

It’s depressing to watch, but it is missing the point that the Volcker rule would not have prevented the loss and is probably unworkable.

The central issue in the debate overFannie Mae and Freddie Mac is nowwhether their portfolios of mortgages and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) should be capped or reduced.

Better-designed provider-level measurement can make the cost containment tools of differential reimbursement, high-performance tiered networks, valuebased benefit design, clinical re-engineering, and the responsible choices they offer more visible and effective.