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 … 27 28 29 30 31 … 41 Older Lessons from the Demise of AB 1400 February 8, 2022 Summary: The recent non-vote defeat of California’s single payer bill, AB 1400, generated much scrutiny, soul-searching, and opining. We offer a survey. Prescriptions range widely: better explain single payer to political actors and business, accept a lesser version of “universal” care, throw in the towel on progressivism, double down on progressivism. Multi-pronged efforts seeking a […] “Please… Single Payer, before I Die.” February 6, 2022 Summary: We desperately desire single payer in our lifetimes, with its moral clarity, equity, efficiency, and improved health. Yet some of us are older, and achieving that goal is uncertain. We should take solace that our advocacy today offers our lives meaning and a measure of immortality by enabling a single payer future. Statement of […] Rising Underinsurance in Children February 4, 2022 Summary: National child health survey data reveal that underinsurance (lack of continuous and adequate insurance) rose from 31% in 2016 to 34% in 2019 — a jump of 2.4 million children. Underinsurance is associated with having private insurance and health complexity. Our failing private insurance system keeps getting worse. Underinsurance Among Children in the United […] COVID Health Care Worker Stress and Response February 2, 2022 Summary: Broad evidence documents an exodus of health care workers from various clinical settings due to COVID-related work stresses and frustration with employers’ responses. The question: could health care workers use this moment to demand more? Why Health-Care Workers are Quitting in DrovesThe AtlanticNovember 16, 2021By Ed Yong “Some health-care workers have lost their jobs […] Why Do We Tolerate Our Broken Health Care System? January 31, 2022 Summary: A health care journalist describes in detail his fight to get insulin after changing jobs. The story underscores the absurdity and dangers of our healthcare system … and how we need universal and unified coverage, like in all other wealthy countries. I Write About America’s Absurd Health Care System. Then I Got Caught Up […] Alert: Past & Present Privatization of Medicare January 28, 2022 Summary: Medicare’s privatization has two phases. Past: Medicare Advantage, an explicit option for enrollees to join private for-profit capitated health plans, with the promise of saving money and improving care; it did neither. Present: Direct Contracting Entities, a covert subterfuge to place traditional Medicare enrollees into private-for-profit capitated health “entities”. The principal of public insurance […] California Single Payer Legislation AB 1400 January 27, 2022 Summary: Excitement in California, the most populous state in the US and very progressive: single payer legislation is forging ahead. AB 1400 passed out of committee and is headed to the Assembly floor. It mandates seeking federal approvals, financing details and approval by ballot initiative, and enabling legislation. If all proceeds smoothly, CalCare will begin […] A Libertarian Appreciates Public Health Insurance January 21, 2022 Summary: Conservative columnist Ross Douthat of the NY Times wrote this week about his shifting views on health insurance. He evolved from supporting a fully free market, to public catastrophic coverage, to more generous public coverage. But he worries that centralized universal coverage would stymie life-saving innovation. He needn’t. How Being Sick Changed My Health […] Contra-Indicated Care: High with For-Profit Providers, Low with Strong Primary Care January 19, 2022 Summary: A new study of all Medicare beneficiaries examined health system factors associated with “low-value care” – medical services that are contra-indicated (shouldn’t be done) because they hurt patients far more than helping them. Low-value care also wastes money. The study found that investor ownership is linked with more low-value care, while higher primary care […] Investor Profit is Not the Solution for Primary Care January 17, 2022 Summary: In the U.S. health care system, primary care is often overlooked by companies and investors in search of profit from more remunerative specialty care. As a result, it can be challenging for Americans to access primary care. With more for-profit companies entering the primary care market, there are a number of worrisome short and […] Posts pagination Newer 1 … 27 28 29 30 31 … 41 Older
