Howard Gleckman
Howard Gleckman wonders how society will provide care to the frail elderly people who rely on the program and account for one-third of its budget. May 18, 2011
Michael F. Cannon
Mitt Romney’s reversals on a variety of policy issues create the impression that when he's with you, he’s with you. At least until he leaves the room. The impression is again playing out in regard to Romney's stunning reversal on Massachusett's health plan. May 16, 2011
Michael L. Millenson
Newt Gingrich's relationship with the health policy community, which has been a critical component of his climb back to political prominence, appears to have been more rebranding than reinvention. May 13, 2011
Jonathan Cohn
Located in one of the nation's most medically underserved areas, St. John's Well Child and Family Center is bracing for GOP-backed Medicaid cuts that the facility's director says would be disastrous. May 11, 2011
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners is considering whether to endorse legislation that would remove broker and agent commissions from the medical loss ratio. The final decision will have far-reaching implications for the reliability of the MLR as a measure of a health plan's value. May 09, 2011
John E. McDonough
When it comes to controlling rising health care costs, we face an urgent problem that leads to a simple question: Is there a smart idea that can be done now? Yes. It's called "Paying for Outcomes." May 09, 2011
Michael F. Cannon
The president and the Republicans agree that balancing the federal budget is impossible without restraining Medicaid spending. That will be much easier if we could stop pretending that every single Medicaid enrollee needs to be there. May 05, 2011
Harold Pollack
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
James C. Capretta
Last week, the president said the country has serious issues to address. He’s right. One of the biggest is the budget challenge. Unfortunately, the president’s carefully orchestrated attack on the Ryan plan has made it much less likely that real progress will be made before 2013 to address the problem. May 02, 2011
Brian D. Smedley, Ph.D
During the month of April -- Minority Health Month -- the Obama administration took significant steps to build momentum for efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic health inequities. But with this momentum the stakes have become higher than ever, just as fiscal and political pressures mount that could undermine progress. May 02, 2011