The health reform debate often can seem bewildering to citizens and political leaders alike. The health sector is vast, representing one-sixth of our nation’s economy, and it is enormously complex. But fundamental principles of economics can help in understanding what is wrong with our health sector and what we need to do to begin to get it on the righttrack.At the Galen Institute, our work … [Read more...] about The Basic FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions on Health Policy and Responses from Our Pro-Market Perspective
Bad Ideas
Among the bad ideas floating around Washington to stimulate the lagging economy is a proposal that would boost the federal government's matching payments to the states for Medicaid. Our colleague Bob Helms of the American Enterprise Institute has done excellent original research on the flaws with "the FMAP" -- Federal Medical Assistance Percentage. The Federal government … [Read more...] about Bad Ideas
The Year Ahead
So what will 2008 bring? We certainly can anticipate a hot political debate over the future direction of our health sector, and hopefully this time the candidates will be talking to a better informed and even more skeptical electorate. Sixteen years ago, voters were swayed by utopian campaign promises that clashed with the hard reality of change and costs. This time, voters will ask tougher … [Read more...] about The Year Ahead
A Sensible Plan
Earlier this year, President Bush called the executives of major insurance companies to a meeting at the White House to urge them to focus on ways to improve the individual market for health insurance. Grace-Marie was invited to participate in a meeting with President Bush at the White House earlier this year when he urged health insurance executives to improve access to coverage in the … [Read more...] about A Sensible Plan
A Courageous Stance
Congress is tied in knots trying to pass legislation that will keep the federal government operating for another year (no jokes, please), and the leadership now hopes to pass one big bill next week that will roll the budgets for nearly all departments, agencies, and programs into one huge package costing more than half a trillion dollars. This is a dangerous time for the Republic because it is … [Read more...] about A Courageous Stance
Letter to the Editor of The Boston Globe
December 5, 2007Dear Sir/Madam:Globe reporter Bruce Mohl provides an important service to readers in his Dec. 2 article, “High prescription prices ailing you? Shop around” by explaining that discount generics can help even those who have drug coverage.By offering generic drugs for $4 or less, Wal-Mart and other retailers show that competition works. Congress didn’t … [Read more...] about Letter to the Editor of The Boston Globe
Letter to the Editor of The Boston Globe
December 5, 2007Dear Sir/Madam:Globe reporter Bruce Mohl provides an important service to readers in his Dec. 2 article, “High prescription prices ailing you? Shop around” by explaining that discount generics can help even those who have drug coverage.By offering generic drugs for $4 or less, Wal-Mart and other retailers show that competition works. Congress didn’t … [Read more...] about Letter to the Editor of The Boston Globe
Clinton vs. Obama
A heated debate is taking place in the Democratic presidential primary between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama over whether the government should mandate health coverage. If the Democrats are having trouble agreeing on whether to impose a mandate requiring individuals to obtain health insurance, that strongly suggests this would be a very heavy lift for the next president. None of the … [Read more...] about Clinton vs. Obama