New Survey of Americans’ Health Care Values
About two-thirds of Americans support either a Medicare-for-all-style plan that would upend the current health insurance system or incremental approaches to reform that would build on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to findings from a new national survey supported by the Commonwealth Fund, the New York Times, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Roughly another third support approaches that would shift more of the federal government’s role in health care to the states. The survey — the second in the “
Health Care in America” series — also found large majorities believe insurers’ coverage of preexisting health conditions should continue to be a requirement, as it is under the ACA.
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| | Last year, most people who selected a marketplace plan during #OpenEnrollment received financial assistance. Now is the time to compare your health insurance options.
@Commonwealthfnd https://buff.ly/2pF98RA |
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Open Enrollment: What Young Adults Should Know
While young adults have made the largest health coverage gains of any age group since the ACA became law, they still remain the most likely to be uninsured. On To the Point, the Commonwealth Fund’s Munira Gunja, Gabriella Aboulafia, and Sara Collins explain why all uninsured young adults should sign up for coverage during this year’s open-enrollment period, which runs November 1 through December 15 in most states. Also, be sure to watch and share our open-enrollment video.
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New Tim Jost Post on “Risk Corridor” Payments
In December the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case brought by health insurance companies claiming the government failed to make “risk corridor” payments, which were authorized by the ACA to stabilize premiums and protect insurers against outsized losses. On To the Point, Timothy S. Jost, emeritus professor at the Washington and Lee University School of Law, explains why the decision in the case will have enormous implications for insurers and others.
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Some States Ready to Help If Preexisting Conditions Protections Disappear
The federal lawsuit Texas v. U.S. — now in front of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, with a decision expected soon — challenges the constitutionality of the ACA. A decision for the plaintiffs would invalidate every provision of the law, leaving as many as 20 million people without health insurance and any protection for preexisting health conditions. Georgetown University’s Sabrina Corlette and Emily Curran explain that some states have stepped up to ensure that preexisting-condition protections are part of state laws.
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States Warn Consumers About Fraud, Other Dangers of Alternative Health Plans
The Trump administration has promoted the sale of insurance products like short-term policies and association health plans that don’t have to comply with the ACA’s coverage standards. On To the Point, Georgetown University’s Dania Palanker, JoAnn Volk, and Maanasa Kona report on what they heard from regulators in five states about the problems consumers are encountering with these plans — from misleading marketing practices to outright fraud — and what states are doing to protect consumers.
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The Dose: What We’re Talking About When We Talk About “Medicare for All”
On the latest episode of The Dose podcast, host Shanoor Seervai sits down with the Commonwealth Fund’s Sara Collins to break down what she learned in the Fund’s latest survey of Americans’ views on health care. They discuss how Medicare for All and other Democratic proposals would change the health system; the latest on marketplace open enrollment; and an ongoing court case’s implications for the ACA.
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Utah’s Medicaid Enrollment Waiver
Utah’s Medicaid waiver, approved in March, included a precedent-setting provision that allows the state to close enrollment for newly covered adults at any time “should projected costs for the group exceed annual state appropriations.” On To the Point, Cindy Mann of Manatt Health argues that this feature will have significant implications for coverage.
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Indiana’s Medicaid Work Requirements
Earlier this year, Indiana required most Medicaid enrollees to demonstrate they have a job or are looking for one. George Washington University’s Leighton Ku and Erin Brantley estimated that 53,000 to 88,000 of Indiana’s Medicaid beneficiaries could lose their coverage once the new program is fully implemented. To learn more about Medicaid work requirements around the country, explore our newly updated interactive map.
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International Health Policy and Practice Innovations | |
International Health News Brief
In the latest issue of this roundup of health news from around the world, you’ll learn about the latest health spending projections across high-income countries; national strategies for tracking pharmaceutical spending; the first-ever guidelines on digital health tech; and much more.
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Is the “Hospital at Home” Model a Fit for Rural America?
The Greenville News recently reported on a hospital chain in South Carolina that has adopted the Hospital at Home model, part of a growing trend among rural hospitals. “With sensors, monitors and other equipment, as well as Internet connections, much can be done at home now,” the Commonwealth Fund’s Eric Schneider, M.D., was quoted as saying. Read our
case study about the Hospital at Home model and what its impact has been.
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Can Private Equity Add Value to Health Care?
In their new post for Harvard Business Review, the Commonwealth Fund’s Lovisa Gustafsson, Shanoor Seervai, and David Blumenthal, M.D., argue that private equity and venture capital investors in the health sector will benefit most if they add true value to the system. “Unlike many other markets, health care is both highly regulated and highly sensitive to the reality or appearance of victimizing the sick and vulnerable,” they write. “Consumer outrage leads quickly to government intervention.”
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Will There Be Bipartisan Compromise on Lowering Drug Prices?
The high price of prescription drugs has become a focal point in Washington, with bills and initiatives emanating from Congress and the Trump administration. On To the Point, Billy Wynne and Alyssa Llamas of the Wynne Health Group compare the current crop of proposals.
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Drug Costs Biggest Challenge for Small-Business Owners
Many small-business owners say they want to provide health coverage for their employees, but rising insurance costs limit what they can offer. One of the biggest challenges is the cost of prescription drugs, say the Commonwealth Fund’s Isabel Paxton and Lovisa Gustafsson. Citing a recent study, they report that small employers are in favor of a range of solutions spanning the ideological spectrum.
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AHCJ Names 2020 International Fellows
The Association of Health Care Journalists announced its second class of International Health Study Fellows for 2020. Supported by the Commonwealth Fund, the fellowships enable veteran U.S.-based health care journalists to pursue a six-month project comparing a facet of the U.S. health care system to that of another country. The 2020 fellows are: April Dembosky, health reporter, KQED-San Francisco; Elana Gordon, health and science reporter/producer, The World/Public Radio International; Michele Marill, freelancer writing for Health Affairs; and Robert Weisman, age beat reporter, Boston Globe.
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Open for Applications: Fellowship in Minority Health Policy
The Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Minority Health Policy at Harvard University is accepting applications for 2020–21 through December 2, 2019. To learn more and to register, visit https://mfdp.med.harvard.edu/cff/how-apply. |
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