Our Health Policy Matters

As President Obama begins his second term, he does so with an expansive vision for America. “America's possibilities are limitless,” he said in his inaugural address , “for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands:  youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention.   My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it - so long as we seize it together.” There are many potential roadblocks toward achieving that bold vision.  One is the myth that entitlement reform must be a part of it. The reason that entitlement reform is at the top of some political agendas has nothing to do with the growth in entitlement programs today. Some people with these agendas don’t like any government-run programs and won’t listen to the facts about them.  Those who do look at the facts see the rapid growth in Medicare and Medicaid spending through 2009.  Accor...

As President Obama begins his second term, he does so with an expansive vision for America. “America's possibilities are limitless,” he said in his inaugural address , “for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands:  youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention.   My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it - so long as we seize it together.” There are many potential roadblocks toward achieving that bold vision.  One is the myth that entitlement reform must be a part of it. The reason that entitlement reform is at the top of some political agendas has nothing to do with the growth in entitlement programs today. Some people with these agendas don’t like any government-run programs and won’t listen to the facts about them.  Those who do look at the facts see the rapid growth in Medicare and Medicaid spending through 2009.  Accor...

If 243 members of Congress knew that they were going to develop Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia, would it change the way they make Medicaid and long term care policy? Or would they continue to deny the inevitable? When Congress convened in 2011, the average age of a House member was 57, and the average age of a senator was 62.   They were approaching the prime years for dementia. If you don’t already have Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia by the time you turn 65, then your chances of developing it between the ages of 65 and 74 are greater than one in 20.  Your chances of developing it between the ages of 75 and 84 are almost one in 7.  And after that your chances of developing it are one in 4. At today’s prevalence rates, 28 members of Congress will develop dementia between the ages of 65 and 74, 91 between the ages of 75 and 84, and 124 later on. The only thing that will change this trajectory is if they die sooner of something ...

If 243 members of Congress knew that they were going to develop Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia, would it change the way they make Medicaid and long term care policy? Or would they continue to deny the inevitable? When Congress convened in 2011, the average age of a House member was 57, and the average age of a senator was 62.   They were approaching the prime years for dementia. If you don’t already have Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia by the time you turn 65, then your chances of developing it between the ages of 65 and 74 are greater than one in 20.  Your chances of developing it between the ages of 75 and 84 are almost one in 7.  And after that your chances of developing it are one in 4. At today’s prevalence rates, 28 members of Congress will develop dementia between the ages of 65 and 74, 91 between the ages of 75 and 84, and 124 later on. The only thing that will change this trajectory is if they die sooner of something ...