Hello 2012! Goodbye PPACA?

2012 is fast approaching. Every year seems to fly by more quickly than the last. What happened in 2011?

The erosion of health reform is what happened. Change began as a landmark, unprecedented reform to the healthcare system. Finally, something would be done about the ugly (and I mean grotesque) state of healthcare in our nation after many failed attempts over the decades by both executive and legislative branches past. It was set to be this administration's crowning jewel. The U.S. would no longer be on a fast-track to health care debt oblivion, and all the while the state of public health would improve. Sigh, such idealism.

But before the President even finished inking his name approving the law, PPACA was labeled "Obamacare" -- supposedly a universal health care system for socialist America -- and that was only the beginning. On came the plethora of lawsuits challenging its constitutionality; and in a few months, we will all know the law's final fate. However, even before PPACA has its day in high court, it lost a provision -- long-term care insurance. Voluntarily. And recently, HHS announced it will not be defining essential health benefits... states will. So, we will have 51-ish different versions of "essential benefits." Sure, it was politically genius (how will this tactical move affect Supreme Court oral arguments?), but is it smart policy? This punting will hinder the portability of health insurance. Wasn't the original intent to provide reliable, comprehensive coverage of benefits?

What began as a glittery promise of health care for our country now is fading. Literally. With provisions erased right before our eyes, what more will be scrapped in 2012? Granted, the law is not perfect and would have been tweaked anyway, but are we on a trajectory leading right back to the drawing board? Let's hope not.

Cheers to what 2012 will bring.