Useful Resources

U.S. Health Care: Reform Ideas Multiply

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October 3, 2008

The increasing number of people without insurance -- an estimated 47 million in 2008 -- and growing health care costs are fostering more interest in and movement toward overhaul of the health care system. At the national level and state levels, dozens of proposals are on the table, offered by candidates, businesses, consumer advocates and many others. The proposals range from national health insurance modeled on Medicare to private market options based on tax breaks. Many policy analysts expect substantial movement on the issue in 2009. At the state level, Massachusetts is leading the way, along with less-advanced initiatives in Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Vermont and Maine.

Understanding the Issue
Kaiser Family Foundation

Nonpartisan foundation assesses state and federal proposals for reform, from tax credits to expansions of public programs.

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The Commonwealth Fund

This private foundation, which seeks to promote a high performing health care system, evaluates proposals for reform and highlights outcomes of various models. Report in October 2007 called “A Roadmap to Health Insurance for All” (http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_i...) provides a good overview.

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Statistics, Trends and Research
The U.S. Census Bureau Data on the Uninsured

National and state numbers collected yearly.

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Kaiser Family Foundation on the 2008 Campaign

Regularly updated news and analysis on candidates’ proposals, and links to videos and podcasts.

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Modern Healthcare’s "Legislating Access"

This news weekly is tracking national and state proposals to expand coverage, including a description and link to each proposal.

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Cover the Uninsured

Description of proposed state and federal legislation.

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State Coverage Initiatives

Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this program helps states expand coverage and tracks state efforts.

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Massachusetts
Background

This website contains numerous reports commissioned by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, which helped spur groundbreaking reform in that state.

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Impact at Two Years

This report from the Kaiser Family Foundation summarizes the first two years of progress of Massachusetts health reform.

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Official Site of Massachusetts Plan

Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority provides information about the law and updated statistics, with a positive spin.

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Public Policy
Center for Studying Health System Change

This think tank studies the possible impacts of proposed expansions in public programs and advocates for making private insurance coverage more affordable.

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State Expansions of Coverage Summarized by Families USA

This point and click national map links to summary information, proposed bills, and analyses by national advocacy group helping push grassroots change.

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The Heritage Foundation

This conservative think tank promotes a free-market approach to health reform.

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Health Affairs Article on State Versus Federal Approaches

This article examines how far states can go on their own.

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National Center for Policy Analysis

This site provides a state-by-state summary of private-market approaches to reform.

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Advocacy
Families USA

This organization supports grassroots advocacy and focuses on problems in the current system and proposals for increasing coverage.

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Physicians for a National Health Program

This doctors' group advocates for a single-payer system.

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Universal Health Care Action Network

This umbrella organization of national and state groups pushes health care for all.

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Fixed for America

The National Federation for Independent Business, a small-business association, advocates for universal coverage based on private insurance, tax breaks and cost controls.

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Health Care for All -- California

Advocates in California for a single-payer system.

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Health Care for All (Massachusetts)

This advocacy organization promotes Massachusetts’ initiative.

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Blogs
The Health Affairs Blog

Hosted by Health Affairs journal, this blog includes news, policy items and views from the magazine’s staff and others.

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A Healthy Blog

This blog, from Health Care for All, a state advocacy group, is all about Massachusetts’ reform effort.

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Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review

A Washington-based consulting firm posts developments in federal health policy and financing.

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John Goodman’s Health Policy Blog

This blogger, who founded the National Center on Policy Analysis, promotes private-market approaches to health policy.

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