The conversation over health reform heated up this week, with Cover the Uninsured Week sparking a great deal of the activity. Unlike past years, there was a refreshing focus on a cluster of ideas promoting consumer choice in health care. Some highlights: ? The 12-member Senate Republican Task Force on Health Care Costs and the Uninsured offered a package they say ?would result in annual savings … [Read more...] about Turning Up the Heat
Breaking the Mold
Political leaders, like House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, are doing seniors a great disservice by discouraging them from enrolling in the new Medicare drug discount card program. Low-income seniors could save up to 70% off the cost of their medicines if they sign up for one of the new cards, as Joe Antos of the American Enterprise Institute and I report in a commentary published yesterday in The … [Read more...] about Breaking the Mold
New Drug Plan: There's More For the Poor
Tommy Thompson is wrong, and for once we can all be glad he is. The secretary of Health and Human Services recently announced that the Medicare prescription-drug discount card program that begins June 1 will cut pharmaceutical prices by an average of 17%. On the contrary, the people who need help most could save between 30% and 70% this year. Congress passed this program intending to help … [Read more...] about New Drug Plan: There's More For the Poor
New Drug Plan: There’s More For the Poor
Tommy Thompson is wrong, and for once we can all be glad he is. The secretary of Health and Human Services recently announced that the Medicare prescription-drug discount card program that begins June 1 will cut pharmaceutical prices by an average of 17%. On the contrary, the people who need help most could save between 30% and 70% this year. Congress passed this program intending to help … [Read more...] about New Drug Plan: There’s More For the Poor
Business Community Embraces HSAs
IN THIS ISSUE: ? Business Community Embraces HSAs ? Cogan, Hubbard, and Kessler on Real Health Reform ? Blumenthal on Physician Supply ? Robinson on the Health Insurance Transformation Business Community Embraces HSAs I'm in the middle of a whirlwind tour of America this spring, giving talks to literally thousands of business owners, insurance brokers, and medical professionals. Last … [Read more...] about Business Community Embraces HSAs
Business Community Embraces HSAs
IN THIS ISSUE: ? Business Community Embraces HSAs ? Cogan, Hubbard, and Kessler on Real Health Reform ? Blumenthal on Physician Supply ? Robinson on the Health Insurance Transformation Business Community Embraces HSAs I'm in the middle of a whirlwind tour of America this spring, giving talks to literally thousands of business owners, insurance brokers, and medical professionals. … [Read more...] about Business Community Embraces HSAs
Good News
Medicare went live yesterday with a website providing its first-ever drug price comparison tool. The site is designed to help Medicare beneficiaries choose a prescription drug discount card by providing competitive pricing information about the specific basket of medications they are taking. Seniors can go to www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-Medicare. We'll have lots more on this next … [Read more...] about Good News
Physicians Revolution
IN THIS ISSUE: Joint Economic Committee of Congress Holds Hearing on "Consumer-Directed Doctoring" ? Opening Statement by Chairman Robert Bennett (R-UT) ? Testimony of Dr. Robert Berry ? Testimony of Dr. Alieta Eck ? Testimony of Dr. Bernard Kaminetsky ? Testimony of Dr. Robert Berenson "Medical Economics" Features Cash-Only Practices HSAs Stimulate Cash-Only Practices Joint Economic … [Read more...] about Physicians Revolution