universal health

While it's all well and good that Massachusetts has negotiated a low monthly premium for its new bare-bones health plan, the initial numbers publicized by state officials are deceptive, according to the nonprofit Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR). The group, which describes itself as nonpartisan, says that the low monthly premiums touted by state officials seriously understate the actual costs patients will face.

While the state's basic plan comes in at a modest …

Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich (D) has released his plans to extend health coverage to the state's 1.4 million residents. The linchpin of his proposal is the "Illinois Covered Choice" health plan--privately issued health insurance made affordable by pooling members across the state. Uninsured individuals without access to coverage would be able to buy in regardless of health status--and families who buy in could save more than $10,000 per year, state officials said. In addition, …

At this point, it's become a necessity for presidential hopefuls to take a position on healthcare. Candidates like Barack Obama (D-IL), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and John Edwards (D-NC) have all come out in favor of a universal health plan. Republicans like Mitt Romney and Tommy Thompson are expected to jump on the issue as well. But do the candidates really understand the issues? Article

After negotiations with the state's health insurance plans, Massachusetts government leaders say that buying in to new basic health coverage products could now cost as little as $175 per month. The bare-bones plans, which were created as an affordable offering for the uninsured, would include such necessities as outpatient care, ED visits and prescription drugs. Now, a state panel overseeing the law's implementation will vote this month on whether to approve offerings by seven health …

A group of Connecticut's Democratic lawmakers are floating a $900 million universal health plan which would depend, in part, on revenue from health care provider taxes. The plan would also rely on increased cigarette taxes and a tax on elective cosmetic surgery. To expand coverage, the state Dems' plan would give small businesses tax incentives to insure their employees while subsidizing premium costs heavily. It would also expand Medicaid eligibility and subsidize low-income worker …

Virtually all Americans are in favor of reforming the U.S. healthcare system, but they're deeply divided as to how the job should be done, according to a new UPI/Zogby poll. About 45 percent favor major reforms, and another 45 minor reforms, but they disagreed strongly as to whether a market-based or government-driven solution made more sense. And they don't believe any of the current political leaders in place are likely to get the job done right, either; less than one-third …

A number of Republican and Democratic governors are appealing to President Bush to protect the budget for State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a program that provides coverage for about 6 million children whose families don't qualify for Medicaid. The governors are worried about the future of the program, as President Bush's budget proposes cutting back federal aid to the states.

Over the past several years, states have expanded SCHIP to include more families above …

The Federation of American Hospitals (FAH), a trade group representing investor-owned hospitals, has dipped its oar into the growing universal health debate with a proposal of its own. The FAH plan, dubbed "Health Coverage Passport," calls for a federal law requiring all Americans to have health coverage of some kind. Under the proposed rules, individuals would have to take employer-sponsored coverage where available, buy coverage on their own, or if eligible, take advantage of government …

> Kindred Healthcare has opened a freestanding, 68-bed long-term acute care hospital in Cleveland. It plans to open another in San Antonio shortly. Article

> According to a new study, doctors in Minnesota would prefer a single-payer universal health system to one based on universal coverage. …

Well, you've got to admit that they're not going for half-measures. In a move that exceeds the ambition of many states, Democratic leaders and state Governor Chris Gregoire committed this week to bringing universal healthcare to the state within five years. Their methods will include cutting down on emergency department overuse, improving use of technology, reducing costs and expanding the state-subsidized plan which helps to cover working poor residents. By implementing these strategies, …