Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has been hailed for achieving what no other political leader has been able to accomplish: Enacting a broad health reform plan with strong bi-partisan support. But the details show this is not a Massachusetts miracle, and others should certainly proceed with caution before following the Bay State?s lead. Massachusetts is seeking to be the first state in the nation … [Read more...] about Massachusetts Health Plan is No Model for Other States
Archives for October 2006
Massachusetts Health Plan is No Model for Other States
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has been hailed for achieving what no other political leader has been able to accomplish: Enacting a broad health reform plan with strong bi-partisan support. But the details show this is not a Massachusetts miracle, and others should certainly proceed with caution before following the Bay State?s lead. Massachusetts is seeking to be the first state in the … [Read more...] about Massachusetts Health Plan is No Model for Other States
Media Spin
The latest outpouring of studies about consumerism in the health sector comes this week from Health Affairs and EBRI (the Employee Benefit Research Institute). The problem this time is not so much with the studies, but with the media spin. The Washington Post, for example, led its report on the Health Affairs study saying, ?A new kind of health plan being offered by a growing number of employers … [Read more...] about Media Spin
Serious Talk
Is there any reason to take talk of a single-payer, government-run health system seriously in the United States? Yes! The California legislature passed a single-payer bill this fall, which was blessedly vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. And many states, including Massachusetts and Vermont, are imposing much more centralized control over their health systems. That's just how Canada adopted its … [Read more...] about Serious Talk
European Health Care Systems: Problem or Solution?
The Galen Institute, the Institute for Policy Innovation, and The Heritage Foundation held a briefing on Wednesday, October 18, on "European health care systems: problem or solution?" European health systems are often held up as models of universal, egalitarian, and cost-efficient health care that could and should be replicated in the United States. But what is the reality? Four health policy … [Read more...] about European Health Care Systems: Problem or Solution?
The Rest of the Story…
So there was more to the story: Last month, The Wall Street Journal carried a front page article about Russ Moore Transmission in Fort Wayne, Ind., and their new HSAs. The article highlighted manager Nick Bond's struggle to provide his employees with the information they needed to manage their new high-deductible insurance. Journal reporter Sarah Rubenstein wrote that Bond and his office manager … [Read more...] about The Rest of the Story…
European Health Care Systems: Problem or Solution?
The Galen Institute, the Institute for Policy Innovation, and The Heritage Foundation held a briefing on Wednesday, October 18, on "European health care systems: problem or solution?" European health systems are often held up as models of universal, egalitarian, and cost-efficient health care that could and should be replicated in the United States. But what is the reality? Four health policy … [Read more...] about European Health Care Systems: Problem or Solution?
The Linchpin
Cost is always the linchpin in any conversation over health policy. Several studies out this week show that cost increases are slowing, and that's a big reason why the political debate over health reform has cooled - for now. Three examples: Aetna released a study this week showing dramatic savings with consumer-directed plans. For example, companies that moved to Health Reimbursement … [Read more...] about The Linchpin