Posts All of our commentary in one spot. You can also browse by topics or search. 410 posts in this category Posts pagination Newer 1 … 22 23 24 25 26 … 41 Older House of Representatives Public Hearings Done Right June 11, 2022 Summary: This week the US Congress televised an extremely compelling hearing on the January 2021 Capitol riot and coup attempt. It may nudge our country toward re-asserting democracy. We need something similarly powerful for single payer. January 6 hearings: Watch first public House committee hearing on Capitol attackStreamed live on Jun 9, 2022USA TODAY Stephen’s […] Private Equity Targets Gastroenterology & Lots More in Medicine June 9, 2022 Summary: Private equity inroads to clinical practices are both targeted (to especially lucrative activities) and far-reaching (with so many profitable deals to make). However, ethical standards for clinical care and private equity sharply diverge, and this poses serious moral dilemmas for American medicine. We need health care reform in two realms: financing and ownership. Betting […] Repeat: Medicare Advantage & Other Private Investment Hurt Medicare June 7, 2022 Summary: A September 2021 Health Affairs blog revealed how Medicare Advantage insurers use aggressive and fraudulent diagnostic coding practices to artificially boost revenues, with similar risks looming from Direct Contracting Entities. That blog was criticized as inaccurate by two corporate leaders in healthcare. The original blog authors responded this week, buttressing their case against Medicare […] What is Single Payer? June 4, 2022 Summary: Today we take a step back to review a fundamental issue – the definition of single payer. Also its typical features and options. Why? Because sometimes we get lost in technical details, and forget the big picture. And too often experts get confused, and thus confuse others. Comment by: Jim Kahn It drives me […] Private Equity Takes Aim at Primary Care June 1, 2022 Summary: If private equity firms have their way, traditional primary care will disappear, replaced by corporate skeletons stripped of financial assets and the most skilled practitioners, with investors sitting on billions in extracted profits. That’s the private equity model, now targeting front-line providers. We must stop them before they destroy our health system. Ethically ChallengedPrivate […] Honor Those Who Died for Our Country by Honoring Truth on Civilian Guns May 30, 2022 Summary: On Memorial Day we mourn and thank the legions who fell in battle for the US. This Memorial Day we also mourn civilians who fell in recent mass killings, perpetrated with military-style assault rifles obtained by mentally unstable individuals. Sensible gun sale regulation would slow this bloodshed, say studies. Yet opponents once again are […] During COVID Insurers Collected Full Premiums But Paid Less for Care, Forcing Government to Bail Out Providers May 27, 2022 Summary: In 2020, private insurer profits – largely from Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care – jumped 20-30% because they collected full premiums even as claims from health care providers fell due to decreases in elective care. Meanwhile, the government also compensated providers for revenue shortfalls. So taxpayers paid two-fold for the care dip. Taxpayers […] Social Harms Induced by Private Financial Gain May 25, 2022 Summary: As we grieve the latest horrific mass shooting of school children, this and other recent stories highlight a broad societal challenge: untrammeled focus on profit that undercuts basic social values. We see this with guns, corporate norms, foreign policy, and US health care. It’s time to elevate values over profits. Letters from an American […] Value-Based Payment = Corporate Control of Health Care May 21, 2022 Summary: A blog in Health Affairs promotes ACOs and other VBP despite the lack of evidence for benefits. Why? Because VBP reinforces the corporate / private equity model of health care with growing profits for shareholders. We must elect those who would instead foster a truly equitable system. ACO REACH and Advancing Equity Through Value-Based […] Fighting Racism with Health Reform May 18, 2022 Summary: The “Great Replacement Theory” is a deeply racist philosophy pushed by the US right wing in a bid for political power. The current system of health care financing is no less racist, though mainly as side effect rather than tactic. Single payer would contribute immensely to decreasing racism. Comment by: Jim Kahn On Saturday, […] Posts pagination Newer 1 … 22 23 24 25 26 … 41 Older
