Our Health Policy Matters

Except for summertime humidity, the Florida and Connecticut “climates” don’t have a lot in common.  For example, Connecticut has one of the best climates for health and health care, while Florida’s is in the bottom half.  On the other hand, Florida has one of the best business tax climates, while Connecticut’s is near the rear. Their political climates are also polar opposites.  Florida’s governor is a Republican, and its Legislature is overwhelmingly Republican.  Connecticut’s governor is a Democrat, and its legislature is overwhelmingly Democratic. And the difference in their policy climates is reflected in the way they handled their 2011 budget crises.  Connecticut raised taxes and cut spending, while Florida just cut spending.  As a result, Connecticut’s budget now balanced.  Florida, meanwhile, extended its crisis by another year.  And its Governor has just proposed cutting $2 billion from health services alone in his proposed...

Except for summertime humidity, the Florida and Connecticut “climates” don’t have a lot in common.  For example, Connecticut has one of the best climates for health and health care, while Florida’s is in the bottom half.  On the other hand, Florida has one of the best business tax climates, while Connecticut’s is near the rear. Their political climates are also polar opposites.  Florida’s governor is a Republican, and its Legislature is overwhelmingly Republican.  Connecticut’s governor is a Democrat, and its legislature is overwhelmingly Democratic. And the difference in their policy climates is reflected in the way they handled their 2011 budget crises.  Connecticut raised taxes and cut spending, while Florida just cut spending.  As a result, Connecticut’s budget now balanced.  Florida, meanwhile, extended its crisis by another year.  And its Governor has just proposed cutting $2 billion from health services alone in his proposed...

For over thirty years, states have tried and failed to contain Medicaid costs. And if they continue to do what they’ve always done, then “more flexibility” through block grants – code words for cutting people and benefits from the programs – isn’t going to help.   This is because the strategies they have used don’t work.   I wrote a few weeks ago about problems with some of the specifics of Florida’s Medicaid reform bill this year.   In this column, I want to add a more global perspective.   source: US DHHS, 2007 Between 1980 and 2004, total personal health care expenditures in the United States increased by 726%.   Total Medicaid expenditures increased by 1,028%.   That’s a pretty compelling opening argument against the four common “cost containment” strategies -- cutting provider rates; reducing the number of people eligible; eliminating chronic disease detection, prevention, and management services; and making recipients ...

For over thirty years, states have tried and failed to contain Medicaid costs. And if they continue to do what they’ve always done, then “more flexibility” through block grants – code words for cutting people and benefits from the programs – isn’t going to help.   This is because the strategies they have used don’t work.   I wrote a few weeks ago about problems with some of the specifics of Florida’s Medicaid reform bill this year.   In this column, I want to add a more global perspective.   source: US DHHS, 2007 Between 1980 and 2004, total personal health care expenditures in the United States increased by 726%.   Total Medicaid expenditures increased by 1,028%.   That’s a pretty compelling opening argument against the four common “cost containment” strategies -- cutting provider rates; reducing the number of people eligible; eliminating chronic disease detection, prevention, and management services; and making recipients ...