What's New in Medicaid
And Other Health Care Issues
John McCain's health plan would end tax discrimination against those who must buy their own insurance. Read John Goodman's analysis of McCain's health plan here.
Barack Obama's health plan relies on incentives to get people insured, but these incentives are perverse and would result in more uninsured. Read John Goodman's analysis of Obama's health plan here.
The Rest of the Story: Many Americans Delay Health Care, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (CSHSC). Although the Center claims cost is the main reason, the real culprit is: rationing by waiting - just like Canada. Read John Goodman's Health Alert .
Is Medicaid Better Than Private Insurance? A study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) claims that Medicaid and SCHIP deliver the same care at a lower cost than private insurance. But important differences between public and private insurance are ignored. Read John Goodman's Health Alert.
Order a copy of the NCPA Handbook on State Health Care Reform here.
Consumer Driven Health Care is the only way to control costs and allow individuals to control their own health care dollars, says Gregory Schneider at the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy. Read
"Cost Control: The Consumer-Driven Cure for the Ailing Health Care System."
Update on State Reforms
Beam Me Up: One Step Forward/Two Steps Back
Iowa: With Congress proposing burdensome regulations on users of Health Savings Accounts, some 98,000 Iowans (as well as those in other states) would be slapped with new paperwork requirements. Read about it here.
Massachusetts: This week, the federal government will decide whether to renew the state's Medicaid waiver, which enabled it to dramatically reform health care. While the Massachusetts plan was more costly than anticipated, some mid-course corrections can improve the program, says former governor Mitt Romney. Read his Wall Street Journal op-ed here.
New Jersey: Gov. Corzine signed a bill that will mandate health insurance for all children. Read here.
Pennsylvania: Just when a few states are lifting some mandates on insurers, Pennsylvania just added a mandate requiring coverage for autistic children. This could add to the cost of premiums. Read more here.
Be Prepared
Does Medicaid spending create jobs in your state? Linda Gorman says the claim is ridiculous. Read NCPA Health Alert, "Is There A Silver Lining in Uncontrolled Spending?"
The Commonwealth Fund finds an answer to the triple problem of cost, quality and access: more government bureaucracy. Sound laughable? Read John Goodman's Health Alert, "Problem Solved."
Do Families USA numbers add up in your state? Many people die each year as a result of being uninsured, claims Families U.S.A. They even provide state-by-state estimates. But Linda Gorman says the numbers don't add up. Read the NCPA Health Alert, "Dying for (Media) Coverage."
Sign up for John Goodman's health policy blog at: http://www.john-goodman-blog.com
Take Advantage of the NCPA's Medicaid Service Center
- The NCPA's Medicaid Service Center canhelp state-based think tanks with commentaries, policy papers and speakers for briefings.Those interested in exploring further should contact Devon Herrick at (972) 308-6470.
Other News:
- Heritage Foundation: Why Massachusetts is Important to Health Care Reform
- Iowa: Insurance Efforts Stunted
- Massachusetts: State's Health Insurance Mandates Cost $1.3 Billion a Year
- Michigan: Universal Health Care Push Comes to Grand Rapids
- New AARP Report Finds Mixed Results from Efforts to Balance Long-Term Care
- Massachusetts: State's Health Insurance Mandates Cost $1.3 Billion a Year
- Michigan: Universal Health Care Push Comes to Grand Rapids
- New Mexico: Governor Eyes New Revenue for Health Coverage
Long-Term Care
Links of Interest
- Center for Long-Term Care Reform, Inc.
- Center for Health Transformation
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Consumers for Health Care Choices
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health)
- National Association of State Medicaid Directors
What the Other Side Says
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- Families USA - Medicaid and Children's Health
- The Commonwealth Fund
- The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
The NCPA welcomes submissions of Medicaid-related research for inclusion in future editions.
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