Looking at nearly eight months of data, three researchers out of Northwestern and MIT published an analysis of the competition in the ACA healthcare exchanges. Their analysis on the competitiveness of premiums focused exclusively on select silver-rated plans.

This interview is from December 2013. Watch Warren Buffett weigh in on Obamacare via CNN Money. Buffett offers a unique perspective on the volatility of the U.S. markets and economy as a whole.

It’s not surprising that what some call “The Great Recession” would have an impact on health care spending as a whole. Of course structural changes due to the Affordable Care Act, instated in 2010, have played a role as well. So it is hard to clearly define which has been the cause of the industry slowdown.

Last week Congress approved a $16.3 billion funding bill aimed at increasing the level of care provided to Veterans at private health care facilities. According to Medical Economics, “the bill, which is now on President Obama’s desk for signature, provides $10 billion in funding for veterans to receive care at private facilities, if they are unable to obtain an appointment within 30 days or if they live more than 40 miles away from a VA facility.”