Our Health Policy Matters

It took Super Storm Sandy to remind us how much we need our government. And how rarely we see government leaders truly cooperate. Cooperation has been a dirty word in politics for close to two decades.  But in responding to the crisis caused by Sandy, President Obama and Governor Christie showed us that political adversaries are at their best when they work together to meet our needs. It took an environmental holocaust for this to happen.  But as the pictures of destruction in state after state circulated throughout the media, no one talked about privatizing FEMA.  No one complained that the government was spending too many taxpayer dollars rescuing people from death.  It was a fine way for the President to end his first term in office – one that may ultimately have won him his re-election.  And also won him a new opportunity to collaborate with the states. In the storm’s aftermath, we understand that one of the prices of having the freedom t...

It took Super Storm Sandy to remind us how much we need our government. And how rarely we see government leaders truly cooperate. Cooperation has been a dirty word in politics for close to two decades.  But in responding to the crisis caused by Sandy, President Obama and Governor Christie showed us that political adversaries are at their best when they work together to meet our needs. It took an environmental holocaust for this to happen.  But as the pictures of destruction in state after state circulated throughout the media, no one talked about privatizing FEMA.  No one complained that the government was spending too many taxpayer dollars rescuing people from death.  It was a fine way for the President to end his first term in office – one that may ultimately have won him his re-election.  And also won him a new opportunity to collaborate with the states. In the storm’s aftermath, we understand that one of the prices of having the freedom t...

Now that the ACA decision is behind us, what’s on the horizon in the world of public health, mental health, and health policy? The truth is that ACA was essentially neutral with respect to prevention and public health.  3% of our nation’s health funding went to these services last year, and 3% will continue to go to these services with or without ACA. That won’t stop the assault on public health.  Federal, state, and local governments have all cut public health services in recent years and, unless we have a public health crisis, may well cut further. And Chief Justice Roberts took a swipe at public health programs in his majority decision, when he wrote on page 22 and 23: “To consider a different example in the health care market, many Americans do not eat a balanced diet. That group makes up a larger percentage of the total population than those without health insurance…. The failure of that group to have a healthy diet increases health care costs, to a grea...

Now that the ACA decision is behind us, what’s on the horizon in the world of public health, mental health, and health policy? The truth is that ACA was essentially neutral with respect to prevention and public health.  3% of our nation’s health funding went to these services last year, and 3% will continue to go to these services with or without ACA. That won’t stop the assault on public health.  Federal, state, and local governments have all cut public health services in recent years and, unless we have a public health crisis, may well cut further. And Chief Justice Roberts took a swipe at public health programs in his majority decision, when he wrote on page 22 and 23: “To consider a different example in the health care market, many Americans do not eat a balanced diet. That group makes up a larger percentage of the total population than those without health insurance…. The failure of that group to have a healthy diet increases health care costs, to a grea...

President Reagan gave his first speech on the AIDS epidemic almost twenty-five years ago on May 31, 1987.  This was after 36,058 Americans had been diagnosed with AIDS, 20,849 had died, and over a quarter of a million had been infected with HIV. For years, he had been criticized for ignoring and underfunding the worst public health crisis of the late 20 th century.   So he began his speech with a joke: “A charity committee approaches the wealthiest man in town for a contribution.  ‘Our book shows that you haven’t contributed any money this year,’ they tell him.  ‘Does your book also show that I have an infirm mother and a disabled brother?’ he replies.  ‘Why no,’ they say, ‘we didn’t know that.’ ‘Well, I don’t give them any money.  Why should I give any to you?’” The bad joke was an inadvertent punctuation mark on a presidency too fondly remembered by both republicans and democrats today. On matters of health, Reagan took us ...

President Reagan gave his first speech on the AIDS epidemic almost twenty-five years ago on May 31, 1987.  This was after 36,058 Americans had been diagnosed with AIDS, 20,849 had died, and over a quarter of a million had been infected with HIV. For years, he had been criticized for ignoring and underfunding the worst public health crisis of the late 20 th century.   So he began his speech with a joke: “A charity committee approaches the wealthiest man in town for a contribution.  ‘Our book shows that you haven’t contributed any money this year,’ they tell him.  ‘Does your book also show that I have an infirm mother and a disabled brother?’ he replies.  ‘Why no,’ they say, ‘we didn’t know that.’ ‘Well, I don’t give them any money.  Why should I give any to you?’” The bad joke was an inadvertent punctuation mark on a presidency too fondly remembered by both republicans and democrats today. On matters of health, Reagan took us ...

Last week, I shared four of the top policy stories of the year that told us something about how health policy has been trending over the past decade or more.  This week, I’m offering four more to close out the year that tell us a little about where health policy is going in the future. 4.  Connecticut Employees Choose Health .  Back in the early days of managed care, when HMOs were not yet a four-letter word and they emphasized wellness as much as health care cost containment, they proved to be popular with members.  In August, the State of Connecticut revived the concept, giving its employees the choice of a lower cost health insurance plan that emphasized wellness or their traditional comprehensive plan.  It expected 50% to choose the new wellness plan.  But the state got a big surprise.  When the dust settled in October, 97% had opted for the wellness plan.  This will cost the state much more in the first year, but will also produce more ...

Last week, I shared four of the top policy stories of the year that told us something about how health policy has been trending over the past decade or more.  This week, I’m offering four more to close out the year that tell us a little about where health policy is going in the future. 4.  Connecticut Employees Choose Health .  Back in the early days of managed care, when HMOs were not yet a four-letter word and they emphasized wellness as much as health care cost containment, they proved to be popular with members.  In August, the State of Connecticut revived the concept, giving its employees the choice of a lower cost health insurance plan that emphasized wellness or their traditional comprehensive plan.  It expected 50% to choose the new wellness plan.  But the state got a big surprise.  When the dust settled in October, 97% had opted for the wellness plan.  This will cost the state much more in the first year, but will also produce more ...