After Obamacare, Why Not Open Up FEHBP? (May 2012)

The Challenge Given the possibility, or perhaps the likelihood, that Obamacare will be declared unconstitutional in total or in part, what happens next?  Returning to the status quo prior to Obamacare is unacceptable, so I want to suggest an approach and request your reactions.  First, any plan must be capable of meeting the following objectives [...] Read the article

Health Reform in America–It IS Possible (February 2012)

This blog captures some of the essential differences in healthcare spending and results in Israel compared to the United States, and what if possible through effective state by state reform of their healthcare systems. Read the article

Every State Needs A Health Exchange — It’s Time (February 2012)

It’s 2012 and a Presidential election year, and health care in the United States remains a mess. Do I like Obamacare? No. Should it be repealed? Yes. But, let’s be clear and let’s be honest. Even if Obamacare never existed, EVERY STATE IN THESE UNITED STATES NEEDS A WELL-DESIGNED HEALTH EXCHANGE. And, if Obamacare is declared unconstitutional this summer, or it is repealed in total or in part in the future, the same is true — your state should have a Health Exchange. Why? Read the article

Should Individuals Be Required to Purchase Health Insurance? (December 2011)

Most people do not understand the role of the Individual Mandate in the reform of our healthcare system--the pros, cons, and legality of the mandate. We hope to put this issue to rest (though it may have to wait until the Supreme Court makes a final ruling). Read the article

The Individual Mandate: ObamaCare vs. RomneyCare (August 2011)

This posting is about the role of the Individual Mandate within a health exchange. What exactly does it accomplish and is it essential to the proper functioning of a health exchange? If it is not essential, then is it desirable from an economic and/or public policy perspective? Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Read the article

Health Reform Corner (July 2011)

Though the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law by President Obama in March 2010, the debate over its implementation and the future of health reform in the United States rages on. PPACA may yet be revised, repealed, defunded, or declared unconstitutional. Here are some of the more salient issues, with information that will allow you to make your own informed judgments… Read the article

A Primer On Health Insurance Exchanges (April 2011)

Change is coming to our healthcare system, and if you haven’t yet heard of health insurance exchanges, you soon will. As a consumer of healthcare services (and sometime patient), it is a concept that you should learn more about. Read the article

Obamacare Needs Fixing (February 2011)

I wanted to share with you an article that was published in the Philadelphia Business Journal on Jan. 7 called “Obamacare Needs Fixing”.  This is the short version that was prepare to fit into the available space of an Op-Ed column in the PBJ. It is true that the devil is in the details.  So, [...] Read the article

Health Reform in the 112th Congress—What Should We Do in 2011? (December 2010)

In March 2010, the President signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, followed by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Together, these two pieces of legislation constitute what is commonly referred to as “Obamacare,” representing the most significant restructuring of our healthcare system in decades. Everyone agrees that the healthcare system in the United States needed (and still needs) fixing—it costs too much, quality is inconsistent, and outcomes oftentimes vary inappropriately and based on an individual’s economic status. So does Obamacare fix what is broken? To a certain degree it does, but from the political left to the political right, most Americans (including the President) are saying that Obamacare itself needs to be fixed. Read the article

Health Reform: Is Bi-Partisan Action Possible? (February 2010)

We actually saw bi-partisan action to fix our healthcare system this week. But, it was NOT on Thursday, February 25, when President Obama convened Democrats and Republicans to discuss health reform. Real bi-partisan action took place the day before, on February 24. Read the article

Fix MEDICARE Now–Start With Medicare Advantage (February 2010)

In January 2010, while speaking to GOP Congressman at a planning retreat, President Obama asked for ideas on how to improve health care without spending lots of money. Here’s one suggestion—we should fix Medicare Advantage NOW!! Read the article

Musings on Health Reform—Where Do We Go from Here (January 2010)

As we go to press, House and Senate conferees are working (behind closed doors) to create a final health reform bill. Regardless of the result, I believe we will be dealing with this issue for years to come. If a bill passes, there are massive regulations still to be written, and the next Congress will undoubtedly seek to recast the legislation. On the other hand, if a merged bill fails to pass both houses of Congress, the country still needs to pass a reduced version of health reform in which the parties can agree. Read the article

Policy Update: An Analysis of Health Reform Legislation (H.R. 3962) (November 2009)

The House of Representatives Has Spoken; Can We Do Better in the Senate?If we are to effectively reform healthcare in the United States and keep the system private, there is one critical concept that needs to be accepted and respected—that is, we must properly apply the general principles of insurance to healthcare. Insurance is meant to provide individuals with financial protection against large, unexpected losses. When used in that way, insurance works, such as in the markets for automobile and fire insurance. When insurance is used to pay for smaller, routine, day-to-day expenses, insurance doesn’t work—it is an inefficient and wasteful financing mechanism. If we want to fix healthcare in this country, preserve choice, and keep the system private, there is a way and it doesn’t have to bust the federal budget. Read the article

Primer on Health Reform (September 2009)

If you have a position on healthcare reform that you're comfortable with, you can keep it. If not, we'll give you information on the choice of a "public option" — a position on health reform that you can communicate to your members of Congress — if you choose to do so. Here are a set of resources to help you understand and participate in the debate. Read the article

A Businessman’s Message to Congress:
Health Reform Dos and Don’ts (September 2009)

As Americans, we are facing one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime — how to fix our broken healthcare system. There is widespread agreement on the following set of goals: address the cost of health insurance, improve access to care, and reduce wasteful spending. We face a choice of protecting our children's future with constructive health reform or behaving like them and achieving nothing. President Nixon tried National Health Insurance reform in the early 1970s and failed. Twenty years passed until the Clintons tried again in the early 1990s — and failed. After 15 more years of the status quo, we can ill afford to fail again. Read the article