Analysis of the Obama Health Care Proposal
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Health Policy Fact of the Day
Between 1996 and 2006, Medicare hospital fee-for-service inpatient spending increased 3.9% per year on average. Campaign Analyses
Linda Blumberg and John Holahan describe their in-depth analysis of Senator John McCain’s health care reform proposal. In brief, they find that McCain’s proposal would dramatically change how many Americans obtain health insurance coverage, make coverage less accessible for those with health problems, have a high budget cost at least in the early years, but have little effect on the number uninsured.
John Holahan and Linda Blumberg present a detailed analytic look at Senator Barack Obama’s proposal for health care reform. In brief, they find that Obama’s proposal would expand coverage considerably, improve risk pooling, and take steps to control cost growth. However, they also find some significant problems that need to be addressed. Read more In the News Scrutinizing candidates' health-reform proposals(MarketWatch, Oct. 7, 2008) Summa offers cures for U.S. health care (Akron Beacon Journal, Oct. 7, 2008) Obama attacks McCain's healthcare proposal (Los Angeles Times, Oct. 5, 2008)  Immediate IssuesCan a Public Insurance Plan Increase Competition and Lower the Costs of Health Reform?Senator Barack Obama, along with others, has proposed developing a public plan that would compete with private insurers within an organized health insurance marketplace. The argument is that a public plan would have lower administrative costs and more ability to control provider payment rates. This paper assesses these arguments concluding that there would be administrative cost savings and lower provider payment rates but not as much as is often asserted. Strong private insurers that offer good value for premiums charged would survive. But most important, the amount of real competition in both insurance and hospital markets would be enhanced. Read more Other Immediate Issues: |
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All HPC Research Can a Public Insurance Plan Increase Competition and Lower the Costs of Health Reform? (Policy Briefs/Health Policy Briefs) Publication Date: October 03, 2008 Making Health Care Reform Work for Small Businesses (Testimony) Author(s): Linda J. Blumberg Publication Date: September 18, 2008 Aligning Incentives: The Case for Delivery System Reform (Testimony) Author(s): Robert Berenson Publication Date: September 16, 2008 Comment on "Making Work Pay II" (Series/New Safety Net) Author(s): Jack A. Meyer Publication Date: July 16, 2008 Comment on "Making Work Pay II" (Series/New Safety Net) Author(s): Len Nichols Publication Date: July 16, 2008 On the Road to Universal Coverage (Research Report) Author(s): Sharon K. Long Publication Date: June 03, 2008 Health Insurance Coverage of Young Adults (Policy Briefs/Timely Analysis Health Policy Issues) Publication Date: June 01, 2008 Modeling Alternative Designs for a Revised PPS for Skilled Nursing Facilities (Research Report) Publication Date: June 01, 2008 |
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