Health Care News
The Heartland Institute's national monthly outreach publication devoted to consumer-driven health care reform.
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Health Care News
December 2007
Avandia Controversy Shows Dangers of Politics
Ever wonder how much of a role politics might play in medicine? If you consider an event that took place this summer, you might start to think it's rather ... (read more)
Ever wonder how much of a role politics might play in medicine? If you consider an event that took place this summer, you might start to think it's rather ... (read more)
Book Misses its Opportunity to Suggest Real Medicaid Reforms
Making Medicaid Work: A Practical Guide for Transforming Medicaid Atlanta: SHPS and Center for Health Transformation, 2007 84 pages Available for free ... (read more)
Making Medicaid Work: A Practical Guide for Transforming Medicaid Atlanta: SHPS and Center for Health Transformation, 2007 84 pages Available for free ... (read more)
Cancer Society Turns Ad Campaign Toward Politics
Faces of Americans flash across the television screen as a narrator says, "This is what a health care crisis looks like to the American Cancer Society: ... (read more)
Faces of Americans flash across the television screen as a narrator says, "This is what a health care crisis looks like to the American Cancer Society: ... (read more)
Consumer Power Report: Consumer-Driven Plans Deliver
I was pleased to moderate a session at the National Consumer Driven Health Care Summit in September at which Jennifer Vachon presented the latest findings ... (read more)
I was pleased to moderate a session at the National Consumer Driven Health Care Summit in September at which Jennifer Vachon presented the latest findings ... (read more)
December 2007 Health Care News (PDF)
The December 2007 issue of Health Care News reports on the House's successful effort to defeat an attempt to override President George W. Bush's SCHIP expansion ... (read more)
The December 2007 issue of Health Care News reports on the House's successful effort to defeat an attempt to override President George W. Bush's SCHIP expansion ... (read more)
Drug Companies Asked to Disclose Too Much
Drug companies are concerned about Minnesota's efforts to make them publicly reveal their financial dealings with doctors statewide--something many experts ... (read more)
Drug companies are concerned about Minnesota's efforts to make them publicly reveal their financial dealings with doctors statewide--something many experts ... (read more)
Europeans Refuse to Understand American Health Care System
This autumn in Rome, I debated Italian politicians on national radio, tried to explain our health system to government and industry leaders in Italy, and ... (read more)
This autumn in Rome, I debated Italian politicians on national radio, tried to explain our health system to government and industry leaders in Italy, and ... (read more)
Experts Praise SCHIP Veto
Paul J. Gessing, president of the Rio Grande Foundation, says it's a welcome change: "I'd take the big-picture view that it is great news that President ... (read more)
Paul J. Gessing, president of the Rio Grande Foundation, says it's a welcome change: "I'd take the big-picture view that it is great news that President ... (read more)
Fighting Back Against Junk Science
In last month's column, I identified five groups responsible for perpetuating the fake consensus that pesticides pose a significant public health threat: ... (read more)
In last month's column, I identified five groups responsible for perpetuating the fake consensus that pesticides pose a significant public health threat: ... (read more)
Groups Combat Childhood Obesity through School Vending Machines
Kindergartners through high school seniors will continue to see more low-calorie vending-machine drinks after a year-old agreement between the American ... (read more)
Kindergartners through high school seniors will continue to see more low-calorie vending-machine drinks after a year-old agreement between the American ... (read more)
Groups Urge CMS to Pay for Anemia Drugs
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution on September 4 asking the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider its July ... (read more)
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution on September 4 asking the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider its July ... (read more)
Hillary Clinton's Plan Would Ruin U.S. Health Care
What's past is prologue for the Hillary Health Plot, Part II. Just as she did in 1993, when she was the point person for the Clinton administration's ... (read more)
What's past is prologue for the Hillary Health Plot, Part II. Just as she did in 1993, when she was the point person for the Clinton administration's ... (read more)
Interest in HSAs Will Surge in 2008
In late September the Washington, DC-based global consulting firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide identified "more health savings accounts" as a major benefit trend ... (read more)
In late September the Washington, DC-based global consulting firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide identified "more health savings accounts" as a major benefit trend ... (read more)
Minnesota Becomes First State to Stop Billing After Medical Errors
Minnesota's hospitals have formally agreed to stop charging patients and insurance companies for certain medical errors, such as operating on the wrong ... (read more)
Minnesota's hospitals have formally agreed to stop charging patients and insurance companies for certain medical errors, such as operating on the wrong ... (read more)
Minnesota Disclosure Law Sparks Controversy
A law passed in 2006 requiring pharmaceutical companies to disclose financial connections to Minnesota medical practitioners is stirring controversy in ... (read more)
A law passed in 2006 requiring pharmaceutical companies to disclose financial connections to Minnesota medical practitioners is stirring controversy in ... (read more)
Pharmacy Reimbursement Bill Stalls in Congress
Community pharmacy owners nationwide watched with concern this autumn as U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) delayed scheduling ... (read more)
Community pharmacy owners nationwide watched with concern this autumn as U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) delayed scheduling ... (read more)
Proposed Interstate Compact Would Lower Costs, Uninsurance Rates in Maine
On September 7, The Maine Heritage Policy Center released a model bill it says would lower health insurance and health care costs statewide by making a ... (read more)
On September 7, The Maine Heritage Policy Center released a model bill it says would lower health insurance and health care costs statewide by making a ... (read more)
States Sue Bush Administration over SCHIP Eligibility Reforms
On October 4, four states filed suit in a New York federal court against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, saying new guidelines it issued ... (read more)
On October 4, four states filed suit in a New York federal court against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, saying new guidelines it issued ... (read more)
Study Identifies States' Health Policy Reform Successes ... and Mistakes
On September 4, a public policy research group in Kansas released a study showing which health care reforms are--and are not--working in other states. The ... (read more)
On September 4, a public policy research group in Kansas released a study showing which health care reforms are--and are not--working in other states. The ... (read more)
U.S. House Defeats Effort to Override SCHIP Veto
On October 18, the U.S. House of Representatives defeated an effort to override President George W. Bush's veto of H.R. 976, the Children's Health Insurance ... (read more)
On October 18, the U.S. House of Representatives defeated an effort to override President George W. Bush's veto of H.R. 976, the Children's Health Insurance ... (read more)
Universal Health Care Law Is Ineffective in Maine, Study Finds
Maine's uninsured rate did not improve significantly between 2003 and 2006 despite a universal health care initiative passed in 2003, according to a report ... (read more)
Maine's uninsured rate did not improve significantly between 2003 and 2006 despite a universal health care initiative passed in 2003, according to a report ... (read more)
