I was pleased to see your editorial on “Vindicating McCain ” (Mar. 21-22) exposing the “deeply cynical turnabout” between the rhetoric of the Obama campaign criticizing Sen. McCain’s health reform proposal and plans by the White House and Congress now to tax health benefits to pay for their health reform legislation.But there is a crucial policy nuance that is … [Read more...] about Taxing Health Benefits
Archives for March 2009
Public Plan Dangers
Len Nichols says that there would be a level playing field between a new government health plan and private plans if “all rules of the marketplace -- benefit package requirements, insurance regulations, and risk adjustment processes -- apply to all plans equally, whether public or private.” But this is a false assurance because Washington can continue to change the rules that dictate … [Read more...] about Public Plan Dangers
Does Massachusetts Have a Miracle Cure for Health Reform?
Reporter Kevin Sack of The New York Times wrote in a March 16 article that "the day of reckoning has arrived" for the Massachusetts health insurance experiment. In 2006, the state passed a law mandating that all of its citizens must have health insurance and requiring individuals and employers to pay. It also created a new system of subsidies and overhauled the health insurance market … [Read more...] about Does Massachusetts Have a Miracle Cure for Health Reform?
Public Plan Dangers
Len Nichols says that there would be a level playing field between a new government health plan and private plans if “all rules of the marketplace -- benefit package requirements, insurance regulations, and risk adjustment processes -- apply to all plans equally, whether public or private.” But this is a false assurance because Washington can continue to change the rules that dictate … [Read more...] about Public Plan Dangers
Does Massachusetts Have a Miracle Cure for Health Reform?
Reporter Kevin Sack of The New York Times wrote in a March 16 article that "the day of reckoning has arrived" for the Massachusetts health insurance experiment. In 2006, the state passed a law mandating that all of its citizens must have health insurance and requiring individuals and employers to pay. It also created a new system of subsidies and overhauled the health insurance market … [Read more...] about Does Massachusetts Have a Miracle Cure for Health Reform?
Where's the Money?
The New York Times carried a front page story on Sunday that said the Obama administration "is open to taxing health benefits." Forget the incessant 2008 Obama campaign ads. This is 2009, and they are searching for money to pay for a major overhaul of our health sector. It is important to modernize the tax treatment of health insurance, and we have long supported reform. But we fear … [Read more...] about Where's the Money?
Lessons From Abroad for Health Reform in the U.S.
Hosted by International Policy Network and the Galen InstituteMarch 9, 2009Washington, DC Webcast Part 1:Welcome, overview, and introductions Update on policies and prospects for health reform Part 2: Government involvement in health systems: An overview Part 3: A global perspective on comparative effectiveness programs Part 4: Perspectives on the coming debate in Congress over health reformA … [Read more...] about Lessons From Abroad for Health Reform in the U.S.
Lessons from Abroad
"So many lessons, so little time." That was how Brian Lee Crowley of Canada led off his remarks at our major conference, "Lessons from abroad for health reform in the U.S." on Monday, co-sponsored by the Galen Institute and the International Policy Network in London. The presentations by noted experts from Canada, the U.K., and Europe were splendid and offered a sober … [Read more...] about Lessons from Abroad