In other news, the numbers reveal results as mixed as ever:

Despite some Republicans still screaming about abortion, the CDC reports abortions have fallen by double-digits over the last decade, hitting "historic lows." Most importantly, the contentious post-20-week abortion everyone wants to do away with? Yeah, they make up less than 1.5 percent of abortions. That's hardly an epidemic – but then again, neither was Ebola.
Meanwhile, HHS (which means grain of salt) claims that hospital errors and readmissions have fallen by nearly 20 percent since PPACA went live, saving thousands of lives. This is an area that needs a lot more work; I'm just not sure the feds are the ones to be touting efficiency. It's like getting an abstinence lecture from Gwyneth Montenegro. (Don't click that link at work.) Or a lesson on class from a congressional aide. All I'm saying is we could probably stand to get a better role model.
And in the land of real numbers, the exchanges have done almost nothing to either hold down the rising costs of specialty drugs or increase market competition. Out-of-pocket costs are rising because of plan cost-sharing measures that are driving up everyone's bills, according to number crunchers at Avalere Health. And increased competition? Fuggehdaboutit. According to the GAO, "We found that, while several insurers participated in each state's individual, small group, and large group health insurance markets in 2013, enrollment was concentrated among the three largest insurers in most states. Specifically, in each of the three market segments, the three largest insurers had at least 80 percent of the total enrollment in at least 37 states."

So, in other words, while we bicker, and the politicians lecture, for the rest of us it's business as usual…

Instant Insights /

‘Lies, damn lies, and statistics’

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