…Bureau discovered the need for a revision during a conversion to a more accurate operating system for the Current Population Survey. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/health_care_insurance/009789.html Comment: By Don McCanne, MD How many in…
U.S. Census Bureau: 45.8 million uninsured
…by 800,000 to 45.8 million. Press release: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/005647.html Health Insurance Coverage: 2004 http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/hlthin04.html Comment: Although the percentage of uninsured is stable at 15.7%, an additional 800,000 individuals have no insurance,…
Opinion By AMA president
…physicians should study the policy proposals on the PNHP website (www.pnhp.org) and the AMA website (www.ama-assn.org). It is clear that the AMA policies would compound inequities and further impair access,…
COVID-19 vaccine as a ‘global public good’
Chinese vaccine would be ‘global public good,’ Xi says
…public goods could be subject to weaker intellectual property protections or other measures to reduce their costs and make them more widely available. https://www.politico.com… Trump Administration Announces Framework and Leadership…
GAO: Private health insurance markets are increasingly concentrated
Private Health Insurance Markets Remained Concentrated through 2018, with Increases in the Individual and Small Group Markets
…something else.” https://www.newsweek.com… Comment: By Don McCanne, M.D. In rejecting Medicare for All, President-elect Joe Biden says, “I support private insurance.” This GAO report is just one more factor that…
Stephen Miller has to go
Letter to the White House: Stephen Miller must be removed
…from BBC reveals Stephen Miller’s character http://www.bbc.com… *** Comment: By Don McCanne, M.D. Although this is an unusual selection for a blog on single payer it is very apropos since…
Why Republicans Are Always Worried That Their Pet Corporations Might Face Real Free Market Competition
Whenever corporate executives begin talking about how they support "free markets" and "competition," check to see if you still have your wallet.
…competition. Which she’ll do while giving tons of speeches about the need for competition and free markets. Is there any solution for Michigan? Yes, and it’s just across the river…
Health Policy Issues in the Presidential Race
Donald Trump would replace the ACA, he says, but with what? His past proposals suggest ACA and Medicaid tightening. Kamala Harris would strengthen the ACA, she says, and limit out-of-pocket drug costs in Medicare and beyond. Neither supports single payer.
…Care Issues, KFF, September 10, 2024, by Ashley Kirzinger, et al. How Voters Are Prioritizing Health Care Issues in 2024: The economy and inflation continue to dominate the list of…
How UnitedHealth harnesses its physician empire to squeeze profits out of patients
Investigation: Health Care’s Colossus
By Bob Herman, Tara Bannow, Casey Ross, and Lizzy Lawrence STAT News, July 25, 2024 UnitedHealth Group started out as a small, Minnesota health insurance company and has since morphed…
Support CMS 2024 Medicare Advantage Payment Rules
Summary: Today’s post is a request to comment favorably (by March 3rd) on proposed payment adjustments for Medicare Advantage for 2024. CMS issued a draft of a plan for 2024…
Private Equity vs. Health Care
Private equity in health care is causing widespread problems. Regulation is not the solution. Comprehensive reform with a lead public role is.
…firms tend to prioritize short-term profit maximization over long term investment in patient care and infrastructure, implement aggressive acquisition strategies that may curtail patient choice and competition, use complex financial…
Project 2025 Threatens Full Privatization of Medicare—A Death Sentence for Millions
Despite the overwhelming evidence showing that privatized Medicare does not serve our seniors’ best interests and wastes money, Project 2025 wants to take over all of Medicare by automatically enrolling seniors in corporate insurance plans without their full consent.
By Diljeet Singh, M.D., Dr.P.H. Common Dreams, October 19, 2024 Once you’ve been told you have cancer, waiting is the last thing you want to do. As a practicing Gynecologic…
