The Obama Administration appears to be serious about healthcare reform, what can you predict?

Change of some sort, but certainly a flurry of activity. Think back to the Jackson Hole Study Group headed by Hilary Clinton in her husband’s first term. While nothing came out of their efforts to nationalize health care, the mere focus on the policy effort caused managed care plan reform, health care systems to be formed, physician groups to come together, and  state governments to propose local changes so as not to be swept up in the federal matching dollars no longer coming to them.  The recent “successes” of coverage for all citizens in states like Massachusetts present a carrot for liberal lions like Ted Kennedy to leave his legacy in Congress with sweeping change on the national front.  A cold and hard look at the cost overruns, underestimates of the potential enrollees, and impact on previously funded “uncompensated care pools” has certainly been a stick to the state as it faces budget reductions, and more importantly to providers, especially Safety Net Hospitals.  Revenue issues will plague the federal efforts well into the first term for President-Elect Obama.  So, expect more unfunded mandates.