Summary: On Memorial Day we mourn and thank the legions who fell in battle for the US. This Memorial Day we also mourn civilians who fell
The McCanne Health Justice Monitor is produced by a team of health policy experts and single-payer champions. For more information, and a complete archive of entries, visit the HJM website. For an archive of Quote of the Day entries from Dr. Don McCanne, click here.
During COVID Insurers Collected Full Premiums But Paid Less for Care, Forcing Government to Bail Out Providers
Summary: In 2020, private insurer profits – largely from Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care – jumped 20-30% because they collected full premiums even as claims
Social Harms Induced by Private Financial Gain
Summary: As we grieve the latest horrific mass shooting of school children, this and other recent stories highlight a broad societal challenge: untrammeled focus on profit
Value-Based Payment = Corporate Control of Health Care
Summary: A blog in Health Affairs promotes ACOs and other VBP despite the lack of evidence for benefits. Why? Because VBP reinforces the corporate / private
Fighting Racism with Health Reform
Summary: The “Great Replacement Theory” is a deeply racist philosophy pushed by the US right wing in a bid for political power. The current system of
Bernie’s Medicare for All vs. Price Manipulation for Profiteering
Summary: Recent news highlights the stark choice we face. Bernie Sanders’ updated Medicare for All bill was introduced in the Senate. Meanwhile, a JAMA Health Forum
Who’s in charge, them or us?
Summary: This JAMA commentary supports doubling down on “value-based care” despite a dismal record of failed demonstrations, and doing so in the context of our dysfunctional
Medicare Advantage is Plundering Medicare: Expansion Would Be Disastrous
Summary: A JAMA viewpoint published in December advocated Medicare Advantage for All, ignoring the sordid record of Medicare Advantage plans. Those plans extract tens of billions
The US: Inspiration, Embarrassment & Struggle
Summary: Friends around the world watch in disbelief as the US is mired in democratic crisis, hoping we re-normalize soon. The frailties of our political system
Lame CMS Defense of REACH, the Corporate Takeover of Traditional Medicare
Summary: Medicare’s funder is defending its plan to yield control of the traditional fully public side of Medicare to private investors. The evidence they present is
Obama, Obamacare & Disinformation
Summary: We hear lots, including from former President Obama, about the serious problem of disinformation stoked by social media algorithms, polarizing our society. What we
Medicare Advantage Plans Denying Appropriate Care
Summary: This report from the US Dept of Health and Human Services Inspector General quantifies the high frequency of unjustified denials of care authorizations and payments