Public health policy researcher at the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration, and faculty chair of the Center for Health Administration Studies.
Health reform raises deep questions about the size and scope of government, about progressive taxation, about the individual mandate and more. It's easy to forget that cost control will be a huge challenge, no matter how these ideological matters are resolved. Finding the right combination of humanity and restraint will be particularly hard in addressing life-threatening or life-ending illness.
Jul 17, 2011
The recent policy debate surrounding the health care safety net seems predicated on the philosophy that we must sharply shrink government despite the accompanying human costs. That vision is most congenial to those who feel comfortable and safe without public help.
May 05, 2011
In regard to the health law's CLASS program, too little political space exists to advance midcourse corrections or enact programmatic improvements -- that’s a price Democrats paid by achieving their dream of near-universal coverage on a party-line vote; and by Republicans, because of their implacable opposition to just about everything Democrats proposed.
Feb 11, 2011
An ironic partisan tinge has become evident in recent criticisms leveled at the health overhaul's high-risk insurance pools.
Jan 17, 2011
Democrats and Republicans may spend the next two years fighting about what to jettison or retain in the new health law. If these battles are resolved, we'll be back to address another looming challenge: long-term care. It's best that this happen sooner rather than later.
Dec 23, 2010
Withdrawing from Medicaid would be political suicide. Despite post-election bluster, no governor or legislature will seriously attempt such a maneuver because of the related administrative, economic and organizational difficulties.
Nov 18, 2010
The real problem facing our emergency care system is not overuse, it's the lack of a financial and administrative infrastructure to properly support it.
Oct 21, 2010
Have you ever been to the supermarket and spotted a balding man with Down syndrome pushing a shopping cart for his elderly mother? Have you ever wondered how he pays his medical bills or his rent? In truth, no single – or entirely comfortable – answer exists to this question.
Sep 06, 2010
President Obama should greet a letter from Congressional Republicans about insufficient funding for the new high-risk pools as an opening bid in constructing a bipartisan bill to fix any deficiencies.
Jul 08, 2010
The differing interests and preferences of seniors and near-seniors reflect the perils of incremental reform in reaching universal coverage.
Sep 16, 2009