In late 2003, Congress created a quasi-commission "to bring the views of everyday Americans to the job of creating a better health care system." After dozens of hearings and community meetings in 30 states, attended by thousands of people, the 14 members of the "Citizens' Health Care Working Group" has published its interim recommendations. The report basically offers a wish list for a utopian … [Read more...] about Citizens' Report
Dire Weather Predictions
Enough already with the weather forecasts! Day after day, night after night, we are threatened with severe thunderstorms, high winds, heavy downpours, hail, searing heat, unhealthy air, and who knows what else! The weather people may command our attention with these dire forecasts, but how often do they get it right? Maybe half the time, at best. They certainly missed it last weekend with a … [Read more...] about Dire Weather Predictions
Dire Weather Predictions
Enough already with the weather forecasts! Day after day, night after night, we are threatened with severe thunderstorms, high winds, heavy downpours, hail, searing heat, unhealthy air, and who knows what else! The weather people may command our attention with these dire forecasts, but how often do they get it right? Maybe half the time, at best. They certainly missed it last weekend with … [Read more...] about Dire Weather Predictions
Letter to the Editor of the Los Angeles Times
Daniel Yi reports on June 3 in "High deductibles a pain for some insured?" about the struggles some consumers face with high-deductible health insurance plans. These consumers made a decision to purchase insurance with premiums they could afford in order to have insurance protection for potential major medical bills that they likely couldn't afford. That is generally how people buy … [Read more...] about Letter to the Editor of the Los Angeles Times
Letter to the Editor of the Los Angeles Times
Daniel Yi reports on June 3 in "High deductibles a pain for some insured?" about the struggles some consumers face with high-deductible health insurance plans. These consumers made a decision to purchase insurance with premiums they could afford in order to have insurance protection for potential major medical bills that they likely couldn't afford. That is generally how people buy … [Read more...] about Letter to the Editor of the Los Angeles Times
Transitions and Transformations
Roy Ramthun, our friend, valued colleague, and leader in the free-market health reform movement, is leaving the administration today after three years of service at the White House and at Treasury. Roy has been an architect of visionary health care proposals that will usher the consumer-directed health care movement into the next era, and he oversaw the speedy development of the guidelines for … [Read more...] about Transitions and Transformations
Northern Neighbors
Question: Is there anything that Canadians can learn from Americans about health coverage - or vice versa? Our neighbors to the north are skeptical, to put it mildly, but maybe we can share a few lessons about innovation and consumerism, as I tried to describe during a conference on Tuesday in Nova Scotia sponsored by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS), a market-oriented think tank … [Read more...] about Northern Neighbors
Try and Try Again
The Senate this week tried, and failed, to pass two no-cost health reform measures - malpractice reform and the Small Business Health Plan bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Enzi. Enzi was unable to overcome criticism from the right and the left and came five votes short of the 60 votes needed for passage. Cancer and other disease groups which have lobbied for years in state capitols for laws … [Read more...] about Try and Try Again