When a topic is “trending” on twitter, you know it’s either getting a lot of media attention or people are really interested in discussing the issue. Those “trending” topics almost never overlap with my career interests, so I couldn’t be more proud than when this happens about an issue I’ve been writing about for months.

Of the 221 waivers that were just approved, about 20 percent were in Nancy Pelosi’s district. Even more disturbing, most of these were for restaurants, hotels, and nightclubs.  Additionally, there were 31 issued to unions and 27 to health care and drug companies.

These additional 221 waivers brought the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) total to 1,372 and the total number of exempt individuals to nearly 3.1 million. Of these 3.1 million, a staggering 1.55 million are in unions… prompting lots of questions about the disproportional number of unions that are exceptions.

Moreover, entire states are being granted waivers in relation to the medical loss ratio requirements in the new health reform law. Currently Maine, Nevada and New Hampshire have all been granted medical loss ratio waivers. Eight other states and territories including Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Iowa, Louisiana, Kansas and Guam have submitted applications for these same DHHS exemptions, indicating that the number will soon grow.

Although it makes me sad that it takes such extreme examples of how health reform is failing for people to talk about it on twitter, I’m thrilled to know my concerns are relevant! You’ll find most of the good discussion under #obamacare and #waivers