Massachusetts has won another round in its effort to get U.S. taxpayers to help fund its experiment in universal coverage. Gov. Deval Patrick announced Tuesday that the federal government has approved an extension of its waiver, allowing the state to continue to provide Medicaid subsidies to people making as much as $63,600 a year. Federal taxpayers will be paying nearly $11 billion to help the … [Read more...] about Massachusetts to San Francisco
Regulatory Lessons from Europe
Published in The American, October 1, 2008American free-marketers often criticize Europe for its misguided regulation of the drug industry, rightly attributing the continent’s paucity of pharmaceutical innovation to its penchant for price controls. But when it comes to promoting innovation and investment in today’s most revolutionary medicines, biologic drugs, the Europeans have … [Read more...] about Regulatory Lessons from Europe
Regulatory Lessons from Europe
Published in The American, October 1, 2008American free-marketers often criticize Europe for its misguided regulation of the drug industry, rightly attributing the continent’s paucity of pharmaceutical innovation to its penchant for price controls. But when it comes to promoting innovation and investment in today’s most revolutionary medicines, biologic drugs, the Europeans have … [Read more...] about Regulatory Lessons from Europe
Reality vs. Rhetoric
While the financial markets roil, the health reform debate is boiling up on the campaign trail where the reality of the policies that are being offered is out of sync with the rhetoric of the promises. While Sen. John McCain's health reform plan is being labeled as "radical" by many critics, in fact the changes that he is proposing are designed to save the private health sector … [Read more...] about Reality vs. Rhetoric
Health Credits and Drug Importation
Health Affairs this week focused on the health plans of the leading presidential candidates, but misunderstanding and even misrepresentation of Sen. John McCain's health policy proposal continues to confuse the debate. Tom Buchmueller, Sherry Glied, Anne Royalty, and Katherine Swartz wrote a critique of selected aspects of the McCain plan but ignored key aspects of it which I believe would … [Read more...] about Health Credits and Drug Importation
Even in Health Care, Competition Works
When it comes to government spending and America's healthcare system, it's rare to hear good news. But according to a recent report, the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit is costing significantly less than originally estimated. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which administers the Medicare program, the average monthly premium for the standard … [Read more...] about Even in Health Care, Competition Works
Even in Health Care, Competition Works
When it comes to government spending and America's healthcare system, it's rare to hear good news. But according to a recent report, the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit is costing significantly less than originally estimated. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which administers the Medicare program, the average monthly premium for the standard … [Read more...] about Even in Health Care, Competition Works
Equality, Free-Riders, Elvis, and More
Highlights Equality in spending Free-riders New Web site features Elvis Equality in spending: Costs are the defining issue in the health care debate, and Brookings Institution economist Gary Burtless offers some revealing new data showing the remarkably equal distribution of health spending among Americans in all income categories. Yes, the uninsured need coverage, and we must make … [Read more...] about Equality, Free-Riders, Elvis, and More