The Galen Institute at Donors facilitates the work of the Health Policy Consensus Group, an affiliation of health policy analysts offering recommendations and analysis on a variety of health policy issues. Participants include experts from leading market-based think tanks, academics, medical professionals, and people who have served in state governments, Congress, and administrative agencies. The group meets to discuss policy ideas, share research, and educate the debate about the value of patient-centered health reform.
Participants have been working together for more than 30 years on a number of projects that leverage their pooled expertise to provide unique insights into the health policy debate:
Recent Consensus Group Activities
- The New Push to Expand Government’s Role in Health Care Won’t Work
The following is an open letter from 68 leaders participating in the Health Policy Consensus Group. The full list of signatories follows the letter. Democrats in Congress have proposed a COVID-19 relief bill that includes provisions to dramatically increase government subsidies for health care coverage for millions of people who already have insurance while further expanding government control over… Read more: The New Push to Expand Government’s Role in Health Care Won’t Work - Coalition Supports State Flexibility RulesThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken steps to increase states’ ability to reform their individual and small group health insurance markets, and a coalition of health policy experts has provided comments supporting a proposed rule that would codify the agency’s more flexible guidance. Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act permits… Read more: Coalition Supports State Flexibility Rules
- Health Care Choices 20/20
Americans have said for decades that health care and insurance cost too much and that they feel like cogs in our vast health care system with little control over choices and spending. And for too long, the “solutions” Washington has offered have led to fewer choices, more government control, and vastly more taxpayer spending that… Read more: Health Care Choices 20/20 - A New Generation of Health Reform: The Health Care Choices Plan
There is no question that Americans are frustrated with the current health care system. Millions remain uninsured, and coverage and care cost too much. Many are simply priced out of the market for health insurance. The costs of premiums and deductibles can be prohibitive, especially for those who don’t get subsidies. Those on public programs… Read more: A New Generation of Health Reform: The Health Care Choices Plan - Yes, we have a plan!—Consensus Group letter on health reform
Andriy Blokhin – stock.adobe.comMonths of work have come together just at the right time with the release today of a letter, signed by 68 [updated 10/6/20: 81] thinkers and leaders in health reform, showing support for the Consensus Group’s updated Health Care Choices plan. The Daily Signal published the letter today, What’s Needed for Health Care Reform: Personalized Care… Read more: Yes, we have a plan!—Consensus Group letter on health reform - A New Generation Of Health Reform
Health reform lives. A group of policy wonks has been working since last fall to develop the next generation of patient-centered health policy recommendations that they unveiled at a rollout event at the Hoover Institution in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. The plan, called the Health Care Choices Proposal, takes a federalist approach in moving power… Read more: A New Generation Of Health Reform - Answering Criticisms of the Conservative Health Care Consensus Plan
The Center for American Progress recently released a study criticizing a Health Policy Consensus Group proposal to reduce premiums and increase choices for the millions of families and small businesses who are forced to choose between remaining uninsured or buying expensive Obamacare policies.The proposal, dubbed the Health Care Choices Proposal, would replace Obamacare individual entitlements… Read more: Answering Criticisms of the Conservative Health Care Consensus Plan - Health Care Choices Proposal
A genuine federalist approach to health reform that moves power and control of our health sector away from Washington, through the states, and ultimately to consumers. - The Path Forward for Health Reform in 2018
An open letter to the American public from over 30 conservative leaders, whose names are listed at the end. Congressional leaders were poised last month to spend tens of billions of dollars in the omnibus bill to temporarily shore up Obamacare’s failing health insurance system.That money, however, never would have given Americans the long-term relief… Read more: The Path Forward for Health Reform in 2018 - Health Policy Consensus Group Calls For Renewability Of Short-Term Health Plan
Thirty-nine health policy experts and representatives of a broad cross-section of organizations joined in signing a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding its proposed rule on Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance. They argue that the Obama administration exerted “regulatory overreach” in limiting the sale of short-term policies to 90 days and prohibiting their… Read more: Health Policy Consensus Group Calls For Renewability Of Short-Term Health Plan
Archives
Would the Health Reform Prescriptions Offered by President Obama and Congressional Leaders Help Patients?
We are gravely concerned that several of the proposals offered by the President and the Congressional leadership would make matters worse, not better. There are many problems that need to be addressed in the health sector, and the signatories to this statement have written extensively about our ideas for reform. Because the reform agenda is moving rapidly through Congress, we believe the American public should be aware of the likely impact of the policies described in this statement which are under active consideration by elected leaders. We believe that the proposals put forth by the Administration and Congressional leaders would harm, not help, patients and would not fulfill the goals and promises made to the American people.
Principles for Reauthorization of SCHIP
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program was designed to cover children in families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private coverage. Numerous opinion polls show that Americans support continuing the program to cover children in these lower-income families. This was the original mission of SCHIP, and it should be the focus of reauthorization.
SCHIP Guidelines: Principles for Health Insurance Coverage for Children and Families
Members of the Health Policy Consensus Group offer the following guidelines to policymakers for consideration during debate over reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). We also offer a brief summary of our larger vision of expanding access to health insurance.
The Facts: Medicare Advantage
Competing Medicare Advantage plans are offering more choices, more generous benefits, and lower cost-sharing to beneficiaries than Medicare fee-for-service. Seniors who especially value MA are those living in rural areas and those with modest incomes who can’t afford supplementary coverage.
The Facts: Medicare Part D and Prescription Drug Prices
Price negotiation by competing private plans offering Medicare drug coverage is producing high satisfaction rates among seniors at a much lower cost than if the government had provided a traditional plan. Congress should not impose new government controls that could reduce seniors’ access to needed drugs.
Statement on Medicare and Prescription Drug Coverage
The Health Policy Consensus Group offers principles and recommendations to lawmakers to guide their decisions on Medicare and prescription drugs. The statement, signed by 26 health policy experts, was released during a briefing on Capitol Hill on June 2 as Congress began its debate over improving and modernizing the Medicare program. They advise changes to bring competition and consumer choice into the program.
Statement of Principle on Patient Choice
Because the Patients’ Bill of Rights will raise costs and reduce access to health insurance, employers and employees should have the ability to opt out of the provisions of the bill if they so desire.
Credits Versus Deductions For The Purchase Of Health Insurance
In a letter to Senator Nickles, the Consensus Group speaks to the approach taken as part of the Patients’ Bill of Rights package of legislation now before Congress to help the uninsured obtain health insurance.
Consensus Group Issues Advice on Implementing State Children’s Health Insurance Program
The Consensus Group strongly encourages states to take advantage of the opportunities in the law to create market-based programs to cover targeted uninsured children and their families.
Consensus Group Announces Position On Medicare Reform
The Consensus Group believe that structural changes should be made in Medicare. Across a broad ideological spectrum, the members of the Consensus Group agree on the fundamental principles of Medicare reform.