SPN Medicaid Exchange - Issue 59

Published on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
MEDICAID EXCHANGE

SPN Medicaid Exchange - Issue 59

What's New in Medicaid
And Other Health Care Issues

To insure the uninsured, deregulate! State health insurance mandates are well known to drive up the cost of insurance. A new study finds that allowing individuals to purchase insurance across state lines would reduce the uninsured population by one-fourth! Read Greg Scandlen's Health Alert.

New study may overstate chronic conditions among the uninsured, says NCPA Senior Fellow Devon Herrick. The Harvard study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, uses some curious methodology to show one-third of the uninsured have a chronic condition. But is that really the case? Read Herrick's Health Alert.

Why does the market for pet care seem to work so much better than the market for human care? In his recent Health Alert, John Goodman asks this question, and readers weigh in.

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. Also, read more specifics on the McCain health plan.

Barack Obama's health plan creates perverse incentives and would result in more uninsured. Read John Goodman's analysis of Obama's health plan and additional updates on Obama's health plan here and here.

Order a copy of the NCPA Handbook on State Health Care Reform here.

Update on State Reforms

Arizona: In November, Arizona voters will get to vote on a proposal that would prohibit a Massachusetts-style system of mandatory health insurance coverage and that prohibit fees to public health care programs for those who refuse to participate. Read more here.

Many states are facing severe budget crunches in the face of a weak economy and lower tax revenues. In California and New York, cuts in funding for Medicaid providers are being proposed. Read, "Medicaid Bears Brunt of States" Budget Crunch."

Massachusetts: A coalition of businesses and insurers have joined together to fight the state's attempts to increase fees on employers who do not provide health insurance. The coalition is attempting to fight increasing financial penalties on employers who do not provide health insurance. Read more here.

New Jersey: Governor Corzine approved a health care reform bill that will require children under 18 to have health insurance, either through a private or public health insurance plan. It will also expand eligibility for the state's FamilyCare program. Read here.

Be Prepared

The Commonwealth Fund is at it again. Its most recent scorecard on U.S Health Care performance found that the U.S. lags behind other countries in the quality of its health care. But the methodology and indicators used to arrive at this conclusion have fatal flaws. Read Linda Gorman's assessment.

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:

Links of Interest

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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