The U.S. health system has been facing an extraordinary crisis for more than three weeks and, astonishingly, the story is only now making big news. The nation's largest processor of medical claims is embroiled in a ransomware cyberattack that has crippled payment systems across the country, with potential breaches of health records for millions of patients. The cyberattack target is … [Read more...] about Health Care’s Invisible Crisis
Does the Mafia “Negotiate?”
President Biden’s address last night highlighted a long list of “health care” proposals he’s planning in a second term that will exacerbate the very problems he purports to solve. For example, he wants to increase to 50 a year—from the current cap of 20—the number of prescription drugs the federal government can target with its take-it-or-suffer-the-consequences price … [Read more...] about Does the Mafia “Negotiate?”
Building on What Works
Imagine that people have a choice of health plans that offer more benefits for the same premium, but the government decides it wants to undermine the plans because it hates that they are run by private companies. That is happening big time right now with the popular Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Example: John Goodman explains in his latest column for Forbes: When does the failure to … [Read more...] about Building on What Works
Worth Your Time
Star Parker, one of the nation’s leading Black conservative voices, has shepherded a collection of essays about “The State of Black Progress” in America, and you are invited to attend the release event, virtually or in person, at the American Enterprise Institute (Monday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. EST). Star’s visionary leadership is anchored in her own childhood experience in the grip of welfare … [Read more...] about Worth Your Time
Is There a Doctor in the House?
Physicians are departing at an alarming rate—both those who work in independent practices and those in Congress who have fought to protect the doctor-patient relationship. Physician practices: At least 110,000 physicians have left private practice since the Covid pandemic began, with most becoming employees of hospitals, health systems, and private equity firms that are aggressively … [Read more...] about Is There a Doctor in the House?
Misguided and Dangerous
Once in a while, a bill becomes law that is incredibly effective in creating incentives for a dynamic and hugely successful public-private sector partnership. It happened in 1980 when two senators—Bob Dole of Kansas and Birch Bayh of Indiana, a Republican and a Democrat—got a bill passed that did just this. Bayh-Dole, as it is now widely known, created a new pathway for private … [Read more...] about Misguided and Dangerous
Flashes of Freedom
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