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HealthCareReform posts

Becton Is Ready for the New U.S. Health Care Era

Posted Mar 25th 2010 6:00PM by Joseph Lazzaro (RSS feed)
Filed under: Stocks to Buy

Becton Dickinson (BDX), first discussed here on March 17, 2009 at a price of $65.66, remains well-positioned for the new U.S. health care era.

Look for Becton's 2010 revenue to surge 8-11% a a result of strong gains in its medical segment; diagnostics revenue should also rise substantially as demand for safety products and infectious disease/flu-related products sees steadily increasing global demand. Meanwhile, the bioservices unit revenue will likely trail the above, but still record 3-5% growth in 2010.

Continue reading Becton Is Ready for the New U.S. Health Care Era

Quest Diagnostics: Success Through Tests

Posted Mar 12th 2010 5:40PM by Joseph Lazzaro (RSS feed)
Filed under: Stocks to Buy

Quest Diagnostics' stock (DGX), which I first wrote about on June 25, 2009 at a price of $55.89, has risen and fallen in roller-coaster fashion lately, with technical indicator violations, but the business model still looks attractive. Here's why.

Without question, Quest would benefit from health care reform at the federal level, if it occurs. Congressional Democrats were poised on Friday, March 12 to begin the reconciliation process for a bill that could produce health care reform... or nothing, after 15 months of debate: the bill's fate remains undermined.

Continue reading Quest Diagnostics: Success Through Tests

Closing Bell: Stumbling About (AIG, SII, SLB XNPT)

Posted Feb 22nd 2010 4:00PM by Douglas McIntyre (RSS feed)
Filed under: After the Bell, Schlumberger Limited (SLB), Amer Intl Group (AIG), S and P 500, DJIA, NASDAQ

The market slipped in and out of a stupor today as traders tried to decide whether the new $980 billion health care reform bill will help or hurt the economy if it passes.

Today's unofficial closing numbers:

Dow 10,382.63 -19.72 (-0.19%)
S&P 500 1,108.01 -1.16 (-0.10%)
Nasdaq 2,242.03 -1.84 (-0.08%)

Continue reading Closing Bell: Stumbling About (AIG, SII, SLB XNPT)

Democrats reach deal on health care bill

Posted Dec 10th 2009 1:30PM by Connie Madon (RSS feed)
Filed under: Politics

Democrats finally reached a deal on the health care bill.

It scraps the public option in favor of a nonprofit plan operated by insurers, but administered by the Office of Personnel Management, which supervises coverage for federal employees.

Another provision includes a cost analysis on extending Medicare coverage to persons 55 and over. Presently, Medicare coverage begins at age 65. Coverage for those age 55 would include a buy-in provision.

Senate leader, Harry Reid said: "The American people will certainly have more choices."

Democratic Senator, Nelson's amendment to tighten the bill's restriction on the use of federal funds for abortion, identical to the House of Representatives last month was killed on a 54 to 45 vote. Reid said he would work with Nelson on the matter.

After months of negotiations, a final bill is on the table. The Senate and House now must merge the two bills and submit the final version to President Obama.

Do you agree with the final version of the health care bill?

Reconciliation is a nasty word for healthcare stocks (UNH, WLP and HUM)

Posted Aug 20th 2009 6:50PM by Wade Hansen (RSS feed)
Filed under: Bad News, Rumors

Unless you've been spending your summer vacation on a tropical beach with no television or internet access, you have seen that the public reception to Congress' proposals for heathcare reform have not exactly been well accepted. I mean, nut jobs showing up to town hall meetings with guns strapped to their legs isn't really the norm.

So you would think that the Republicans who are against a public insurance plan are in control, right? Not so fast.

Congressional Democrats are now talking about splitting the healthcare bills into two parts so they can take advantage of a loophole called reconciliation.

Continue reading Reconciliation is a nasty word for healthcare stocks (UNH, WLP and HUM)

Could a health care insurance tax rein-in premiums?

Posted Jul 30th 2009 2:30PM by Joseph Lazzaro (RSS feed)
Filed under: Forecasts, Politics

Could a tax on health care premiums, applied to both businesses and individuals, slow the increase in health insurance premiums?

It seems implausible, but indeed it could. Here's why:

Continue reading Could a health care insurance tax rein-in premiums?

An economic wish-list for the United States for the second half of 2009

Posted Jun 26th 2009 6:00PM by Joseph Lazzaro (RSS feed)
Filed under: Forecasts, Employees, Economic Data, Politics, Oil

The first half of 2009 has whizzed by in what seems like a macroeconomic eye-blink. Wasn't President Obama inaugurated just a few weeks ago? It's a cliché but it's true: time flies.

The nation has made strides to recover from its near-decade of policy errors, but much work remains. Accordingly, then, here are three economic wishes for the United States for the second half of the year:

Continue reading An economic wish-list for the United States for the second half of 2009