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A majority of employers who don’t sponsor health would be unwilling to contribute over $50 per employee per month for coverage

By on October 23, 2008 in Employers, Health Consumers, Health Economics, Health reform

The U.S. employer sponsored health system is experiencing some bipolar behavior: there is a cadre of large employers who want to continue sponsoring health benefits as part of overall compensation. But, for at least one in 3 employers, most would not be willing to pay $50 per member per month to cover health for an [...]

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It’s tough to be a governor: managing the health care lab

By on July 15, 2008 in Health Economics, Health politics, Health reform, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Public health

The National Governors Association (NGA) is meeting in Philadelphia this week, where my City of Brotherly and Sisterly Love is witnessing some sobering discussions about health care.   On the one hand, Bill Clinton called in his opening keynote speech for the states to be laboratories of democracy.   But how much health-democracy can each [...]

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In the health system popularity contest, the U.S. loses

By on July 10, 2008 in Global Health, Health Quality, Health reform, Public health

In this season’s Health System Idol contest, the U.S. loses to most other developed countries. One in three Americans would like to “completely rebuild” the U.S. health system, according to The Harris Poll conducted in ten nations.   And another 50% believe that, “fundamental changes are needed to make it work better.”   Harris also [...]

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Health care inflation: thoughts on PwC’s health cost forecast for 2009

By on June 18, 2008 in Health politics, Health reform, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Public health

2009 will see health cost inflation of nearly 10%, according to PricewaterhouseCooper’s (PwC’s) report, Behind the Numbers: Medical Cost Trends for 2009. Medical inflation ran about 10% in 2007, as well.   PwC says that since the mid-1960s, the biggest jumps in the percentage of GDP allocated to health care in the U.S. happen during [...]

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The CBO dissects health cost growth: it’s not all about aging

By on May 30, 2008 in Aging and Technology, Demographics and health, Health Economics, Health reform, Public health

Growth in spending on Medicare and Medicaid is a function of (1) the aging of the population and (2) trends in the cost of health care. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has published an issue brief, Accounting for Sources of Projected Growth in Federal Spending on Medicare and Medicaid, which finds that health care cost [...]

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