A few reactions to the Supreme Court's ruling on the health-care law ...
On CNBC, an interview with Aetna's CEO, Mark T. Bertolini.
Bloomberg TV, interview with Mike McCallister, chairman and CEO of Humana, "McCallister: We Will Have 30M More People Covered."
Another Bloomberg interview, Universal Health Services Chairman and CEO Alan Miller.
Bloomberg also interview Aetna's former CEO, Ronald Williams, "Ex-Aetna CEO Williams Sees More Health Insurer M&A."
On The Kudlow Report, CNBC, a brief segment with BRT President John Engler and Jim Garland, chief executive of Sharp Details, a Dulles-based small business that cleans corporate jets. Engler commented:
This law doesn't fix the costs containment problem. We've still got a problem in health care costing an awful lot in America. Iis a challenge for companies. It's a challenge for payroll. Too many workers had to forego wage increases because all the compensation has gone into the health package. When we look at the budget of the United States, the change that we need in the entitlement systems, Medicare, even Medicaid, are driven by health care costs. So, much work to be done. If you want to repeal and replace, you have to have a plan. If you support and love Obamacare, you still have got to fix the law. So the debate is just beginning.
Engler was also interviewed with this Marketplace radio segment, "Will health care reform be good for the U.S. economy?"
Among the problems that must still be addressed is a 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices. AdvaMed, the Advanced Medical Technology Association, issued a statement in response to the ruling, commenting, "We have consistently opposed the $29 billion medical device tax because of its damaging effects on economic competitiveness, jobs and the research and development needed to find tomorrow’s treatments and cures. The House has already voted to repeal the device tax, and we are heartened by the number of senators who have said they oppose the tax." See also Indianapolis Star, "Health care reform: Indiana medical device makers seen as losers in health care ruling."
Kaiser Health News has an extensive round-up of reaction from health care and insurance industry leaders, "Most Health Care Firms Expect To Benefit From Health Law."