The Trump Administration’s rule expanding health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), specifically allowing employers to reimburse employee’s individual market premiums under certain conditions, is a significant step to empower American families with greater choice and control of their health insurance. These individual coverage HRAs (ICHRAs) are already being used by hundreds of employers … [Read more...] about Trump Administration Needs To Take Action To Maximize HRA Rule Potential
Responding to the Coronavirus Crisis and Building a Stronger Health Sector for the Future
An open letter to the American people from 83 participants in the Health Policy Consensus Group and other health care leaders The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the need for flexibility in our health sector and for public officials to do more to empower medical professionals and health care innovators to provide the care and coverage people want and need. Those goals must guide our … [Read more...] about Responding to the Coronavirus Crisis and Building a Stronger Health Sector for the Future
End the Calamity of Shutdowns
By Doug Badger & Grace-Marie Turner - June 11, 2020 - RealClearHealth | States like New York and New Jersey with the strictest lockdown policies are relaxing some restrictions, but they must accelerate their reopenings and focus on targeting resources to hotspots and to protecting the most vulnerable. Months of confinement have taken an enormous toll in physical and mental health … [Read more...] about End the Calamity of Shutdowns
Recession has hit America’s health care industry – and it’s brutal. Here’s what needs to happen now
By Amy Anderson and Doug Badger |FOX Business June 10, 2020 | The health care sector is in recession. Hospitals, physician and dental practices and clinical laboratories are hemorrhaging money and furloughing staff. Some are on the brink of bankruptcy. While the world is calling health workers “heroes," many are losing their jobs. In April, the sector shed 1.4 million … [Read more...] about Recession has hit America’s health care industry – and it’s brutal. Here’s what needs to happen now
We Must Begin Healing
Today’s good news about jobs recovery, with businesses unexpectedly adding 2.5 million jobs, is a welcome glimmer of hope in an otherwise terrible week. I pray that our country can begin healing from the death, damage, and destruction that have devastated the lives and livelihoods of so many Americans. It’s crucial that states open their economies so people can go back to … [Read more...] about We Must Begin Healing
Potential long-term economic consequences of the federal response to the COVID-19 lockdowns
Norbert J. Michel, PhD, Paul Winfree, and Doug Badger |The Heritage Foundation | Senate leaders are hard at work on another coronavirus relief package, and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said this week “kids in school, jobs and health care are likely to be the focus of the bill.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says a developing coronavirus relief bill will cost at least … [Read more...] about Potential long-term economic consequences of the federal response to the COVID-19 lockdowns
Continuing The Lockdowns Will Only Fuel The Fires
America has been a tinderbox after months of confinement, joblessness, and economic ruin. Last week people broke out of their homes to peacefully protest the brutal death of George Floyd, but rioters are taking advantage of the demonstrations to destroy cities across the country.Now governors and mayors are threatening to continue the shutdowns and extend curfews … [Read more...] about Continuing The Lockdowns Will Only Fuel The Fires
Nursing Homes, Coronavirus and Medicaid
How a program for the poor pushes Americans into poor-quality facilities. By Stephen A. Moses and Brian C. Blase | June 1, 2020 7:13 pm ET With increased focus on the huge number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, long-term care expert Steve Moses and Galen Senior Fellow Brian Blase write that federal payment policies are partly to blame for the low quality of care in many … [Read more...] about Nursing Homes, Coronavirus and Medicaid