State Health Watch Archives – January 1, 2004
January 1, 2004
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Special Report: The Uninsured - Policy-makers still cannot agree on a single solution
At the end of 2003, there was a flurry of reports on the problems of those without health insurance coverage for all or part of each year and what to do about them. The upcoming presidential campaign keeps the issue alive. Here is a summary of the reports and analyses that are likely to be the foundation for any policy changes. -
Fiscal Fitness: How States Cope - NASHP: Medicaid buy-in programs increase as states find they can reduce the uninsured
A literature review, state survey, and expert meeting to look at the design and operation of Medicaid buy-in programs as a way to cover the uninsured have found that such programs have increased in both number and enrollment in recent years, and states have demonstrated that they can design and implement participant buy-in programs using existing waiver mechanisms. -
Special Report: The Uninsured - Many Californians lack health insurance for long periods, say UCLA researchers
Often considered a bellwether state in health policy, California is demonstrating the extent of the problem of lack of health insurance, but it also will be seeing how one possible solution could work. -
Special Report: The Uninsured - California implements ‘pay-or-play’ policy
One of the possible solutions to the nations problem with lack of health insurance coverage for all is a pay-or-play program that puts the burden on employers to provide employees with health insurance or pay for insurance provided by the state. California will be implementing such a program as created in Senate Bill 2, which passed the legislature Sept. 12 and was signed by former Gov. Gray Davis Oct. 5, about six weeks before he left office. -
Special Report: The Uninsured - Covering many of the uninsured need not spike health care costs
Twelve to 40 million uninsured Americans could receive health care coverage at an increase to total national health spending of 1.5% to 3.7%, or $23 billion to $57 billion a year, according to new analysis from the Lewin Group.