Obamacare started out with lofty goals, but took a quick nosedive into a law that has suffered through a botched implementation and a questionable approval process, says journalist Steven Brill in a new book about the controversial reform law.
"America's Bitter Pill" outlines the healthcare reform process that had, initially, aimed to give Americans universal coverage and would outlaw denials for pre-existing conditions all while saving costs,
reports The Daily Beast.
Brill's
Time cover story "A Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills are Killing Us," created a stir with its focus on the out-of-control costs being charged for routine medical care in the United States, and his new book turns the scrutiny onto the Affordable Care Act (ACA) itself and who is to blame for the law's many problems.
In fact, Brill writes, President Barack Obama had initially argued against healthcare legislation, using the topic as one of his attacks against Hillary Clinton in the 2008 campaign.
But when he took office, the overhaul legislation became a priority, and Brill writes that the newly elected president was pressured by many forces to push for the landmark legislation.
Brill says in his book that during the campaign, Obama was made aware of the numerous problems in the nation's healthcare systems. But there was also political pressure, especially from then-Sen. Ted Kennedy, one of Obama's most powerful endorsers.
Kennedy had fought for universal coverage for most of his career, and when the Massachusetts Democrat died in 2009, the party took up his banner.
In addition, Brill writes, Mitt Romney as governor of Massachusetts had pushed through universal care in his state, and then-Montana Sen. Max Baucus was also pushing for reform.
Brill's book also discusses the deals that were made to get the legislation passed, but says Congress should be praised for its efforts and the Obama administration condemned for its actions.
Brill accuses Obama of being "willfully ignorant" of healthcare policy when he was running in 2008, but "grossly negligent" when it came to implementing the law, The Daily Beast reports.
Brill also outlines the Obama administration's secret negotiations with insurance companies, the pharmaceutical trade group PhRMA, and hospitals to get money for ads that supported the reform measure.
The book delves into the implementation phase, including telling an anecdote about U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra, who asked the White House staff if it needed help on the website, but was told to "STOP!"
Brill also criticizes Obama for having a management style that is averse to conflict, saying he did not want to hear about problems with implementation. The website's design ended up with people who were eager to protect their titles, Brill said, and soon became mired in bureaucracy.
But despite his criticism of Obama, Brill also lauds him for standing behind healthcare, saying "we should admire him for it."
He also praised White House adviser Valerie Jarrett for her efforts in pushing through the reform bill, saying she did not receive much credit for her work to push through the legislation.
Mostly, concludes The Daily Beast, Brill's book serves as a reminder that where Obamacare is concerned, reform has only just begun, and the legislation pushed through in 2010 still has many flaws and questions that need to be resolved.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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