The Cost Conundrum Persists
A New York Times article I just read suggests that a data set I used in my piece “The Cost Conundrum” has been questioned. Not so. A recent opinion piece in The New England Journal of Medicine does take issue with a particular analysis offered by the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. But it doesn’t dispute the Dartmouth data I drew on…
As readers may recall, my article investigated why Medicare spent markedly more for its enrollees in McAllen, Texas, than in most of the country…communities with some of the best quality measures for health care have among the lowest costs in the country for their elderly Medicare patients—communities like Grand Junction, Colorado, and Rochester, Minnesota, where the Mayo Clinic is the dominant medical institution.
The New Yorker, by Atul Gawande, 2/2010
Additional health care reform coverage: Boston Globe, Galen Institute
TOP STORIES
Obama to Offer Health Bill to Ease Impasse as Bipartisan Meeting Approaches
The New York Times
February 19, 2010
President Obama will put forward comprehensive health care legislation intended to bridge differences between Senate and House Democrats ahead of a summit meeting with Republicans next week.
Obama to Get Specific on Health Care Legislation
The Los Angeles Times
February 19, 2010
After sustaining months of criticism for not being clear about what he wanted in health care legislation, President Obama will post specific proposals for a comprehensive plan on the Internet by Monday.
Obama Keeps All-Democratic Health Care Option Open
The Washington Post
February 19, 2010
The White House signaled Thursday that an aggressive, all-Democratic strategy for overhauling the nation's health care system remains a serious option.
INSURANCE
Fight Over Health Care Premiums Heats Up
The Wall Street Journal
February 19, 2010
HHS Secretary Decries Higher Rates for Health Insurance
The Washington Post
February 19, 2010
The Obama administration stepped up its criticism of health insurers' efforts to raise their rates, an attempt to harness public aggravation with the industry and rebuild momentum for broad changes to the nation’s health care system.
Bleak Economy Pushing Insurance Companies to Raise Rates
The New York Times
February 18, 2010
The nation's health insurers have come under sharp attack by the Obama administration for seeking policy rate increases, but insurers say the challenging business environment may leave them little choice but to raise prices if they want to protect profits.
The Lesson of Anthem Blue Cross
The New York Times - Op-Ed
February 18, 2010
Clients were understandably furious when Anthem Blue Cross announced huge rate increases for people who buy their own insurance - the move also provided a textbook example of why the nation badly needs comprehensive health care reform.
TRANSPARENCY/SAFETY
Healthpopuli
February 18, 2010
A telling Harris Poll reveals it doesn't much matter what the details are: "support for, or opposition to, health care reform has little to do with what is actually proposed.”
STATE NEWS
The New York Times - Op-Ed
February 18, 2010
California's death spiral is a reminder that our health care system is unraveling, and inaction isn't an option.
MEDICARE/MEDICAID
Medicaid Enrollment Increases Nationwide, Analysis Finds
The Washington Post
February 19, 2010
More than 3 million people joined Medicaid in the year that ended in June, pushing program enrollment to a record 46.8 million, exacerbating the financial strains on already burdened states and complicating the federal politics of health care.
Economy Forces States to Reduce Medicaid Spending
USA Today
February 19, 2010
More than half the states are reducing Medicaid services and payments to health care providers this year as the recession propelled enrollments to record levels and sapped money from treasuries.
States Consider Medicaid Cuts As Use Grows
The New York Times
February 19, 2010
Facing relentless fiscal pressure and exploding demand for government health care, virtually every state is making or considering substantial cuts in Medicaid, even as Democrats push to add 15 million people to the rolls.
REFORM EFFORTS
Sebelius: White House May Fight for Public Option in Health Bill
The Hill
February 18, 2010
The White House is willing to make a push for the public option if Senate Democrats decide to bring it up for a vote.
Additional Coverage
Public Option Support Surging in Senate - The Huffington Post
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
White House Provides $4.3B to Help States with Drug Costs
Healthleaders Media
February 19, 2010
Acknowledging a tough economy, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Thursday the government plans to grant $4.3 billion to states to reduce their prescription drug costs.
NEW ADMINISTRATION
Tanden Leaving Administration for CAP
The Republican
February 19, 2010
Neera Tanden, one of the Obama administration's top health care reform advisers, is leaving to become chief operating officer at the Center for American Progress (CAP).