We offered hope in last week’s newsletter that we can fight our way out of the thicket of problems in our health sector by tapping the huge store of human ingenuity ready to offer solutions most of us can’t even imagine. It is important that more than half of Americans still have and value their private health coverage, but they are increasingly alarmed about costs—more than $30,000 a … [Read more...] about Flashes of Freedom
What It’s All About
As health care has moved to a lower-tier issue, it can be hard to generate enthusiasm to persevere for change that is so badly needed. While far too many political leaders find healthcare complicated and boring, in our wonderful circle of colleagues in the health policy community, health care is a passion. We know this is the front we are defending in the never-ending battle to … [Read more...] about What It’s All About
Health Care Dysfunction
Last week, we wrote about why it’s getting harder and taking longer to get doctors’ appointments. And it’s getting worse. Payments to physicians for treating Medicare patients were cut by 3.4%, starting January 1. The American Medical Assn. is among many others fighting to reverse the cuts. AMA President Jesse Ehrenfeld says Congress must include a fix in the budget … [Read more...] about Health Care Dysfunction
More Competition for Care
If you live in California and are experiencing long waits to get appointments with your doctors, it’s going to get worse. California this week further expanded free health coverage to include all undocumented immigrants. Gov. Gavin Newsom says this as an essential humanitarian gesture. “We’re making sure families and communities across California are healthier, stronger, and … [Read more...] about More Competition for Care
Major Healthcare Bills Pass House
We reported to you earlier about progress the House of Representatives has made in advancing, on a bi-partisan basis, pro-consumer health reform legislation. This week, two more bills were passed—more positive progress than has been made since Sen. John McCain’s famous thumbs down in 2017. All three bills passed the House with bi-partisan support and await Senate … [Read more...] about Major Healthcare Bills Pass House
Happy 20th!
Twenty years ago today, in a huge ceremony at DAR Constitution Hall near the White House, President George W. Bush signed into law the Medicare Modernization Act, creating major new programs that put power in the hands of consumers instead of government. The MMA created a tax break for working Americans to save for their health care expenses and gave seniors new options to get … [Read more...] about Happy 20th!
Ready to Respond
Health care is back in the headlines, but not in a good way. Democrats are salivating over the latest post from former President Trump proclaiming on Truth Social that “Obamacare Sucks!!!” and saying he would terminate the program. They see the opportunity to use Obamacare as a weapon against Republicans for yet another election cycle. President Biden said yesterday: “My … [Read more...] about Ready to Respond
A Cornucopia of Things You Won’t Read Elsewhere
The mainstream media is lax in covering writings and actions in the market-based policy community on health reform, but a lot of important work is being done by our colleagues in the Health Policy Consensus Group and elsewhere that deserves attention. Here are examples, exposing the failures of government-centric policies and the importance of patient-centered reform ideas. Brian Blase of … [Read more...] about A Cornucopia of Things You Won’t Read Elsewhere