Publications: 2008
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Detour on the Road to Kids Coverage: Administration Creates Roadblocks, So States Seek Alternative Routes examines the current state of children's coverage and finds that, while the Administration's new directive has created roadblocks that stymied state efforts to expand eligibility, it has not stopped states from making progress. 10 pp. Free (July 2008)
Fighting Revocations and Limitations of Health Insurance Policies addresses the insurance company practice of revoking an individual's health insurance or suddenly eliminating coverage for health services long after the person has enrolled (known as "post-claims underwriting"). It also discusses what consumers and advocates can do about the practice. 8 pp. Free (July 2008)
Five Good Reasons to Increase Health Coverage for Parents discusses the reasons why states should strengthen the health and economic security of families by expanding health coverage for parents. 4 pp. Free (July 2008)
Precarious Position: States Must Balance Declining Revenues with a Growing Need for Medicaid Several states are proposing to balance their budgets by cutting Medicaid—raising cost-sharing, shrinking eligibility, or reducing benefits. This issue brief discusses Medicaid cuts in a number of states and recommends congressional action to bring fiscal relief to the states. 12 pp. Free (July 2008)
America's Health Care Crisis: Cities on the Front Lines Families USA surveyed a sample of mayors from across the country on the topics of health care and the uninsured. We found that cities are profoundly affected by the rising number of uninsured and the rising cost of providing coverage for their own employees. This report presents the results of our survey and examines cities’ role in the health care safety net, the impact of the growing number of uninsured on city services, and the ways that state and federal leaders might come together with city leaders to improve health coverage and access for all Americans. 20 pp. $15.00 (June 2008)
In Your Own Backyard: How NIH Funding Helps Your State's Economy analyzes how NIH funding provides direct economic benefits to the states, from increased employment to growth opportunities in business and education. The report includes state-by-state data that show the real, direct economic benefits provided by NIH research funding awards. 23 pp. $15.00 (June 2008)
Failing Grades: State Consumer Protections in the Individual Health Insurance Market Laws protecting consumers purchasing health coverage in the individual market vary across the country. In many states, insurance companies can deny coverage, raise premiums significantly, refuse to cover treatment for certain conditions, and even revoke the coverage of policyholders who have been paying premiums for years. 36 pp. $10.00 (June 2008) More in-depth resources that supplement the report:
- The Facts about Prior Approval of Health Insurance Premium Rates discusses several insurance industry myths about the consequences of prior approval. The prior approval process is used by most states to make sure that insurance companies' proposed premium increases are not excessive. 4 pp. Free (June 2008)
- Medical Loss Ratios: Evidence from the States presents the results of a 50-state survey we conducted in March and April 2008 that determined which states have laws or regulations that establish a minimum "medical loss ratio" (a percentage of premium dollars that must be spent on medical care). 8 pp. Free (June 2008)
- Post-Claims Underwriting Survey presents the findings of a survey we conducted in April and May 2008 of all state insurance departments regarding laws in their states that prohibit insurers from limiting or rescinding health insurance policies after they have been issued. 8 pp. Free (June 2008)
Identifying and Evaluating Equity Provisions in State Health Care Reform explores how states can increase health equity by expanding health coverage and addressing issues of access to care, quality of care, the social determinants of health, and infrastructure reforms. The report also evaluates existing health equity laws, regulations, and reform proposals in five states. From The Opportunity Agenda, Families USA, and The Commonwealth Fund. 56 pp. Free (April 2008)
Reinsurance: A Primer aims to help policymakers and advocates better understand what reinsurance is and how it can make coverage easier to obtain and more affordable. It also identifies some of the benefits of reinsurance to aid lawmakers as they design reinsurance programs to meet the needs of their states. 20 pp. Free (April 2008)
Bad Medicine: The President's Medicaid Regulations Will Weaken State Economies The Bush Administration issued seven new Medicaid regulations in 2007 that together will strip an estimated $50 billion in federal funds from states over the next five years. These state-specific reports quantify the impact that these changes will have on state economies. 4 pp. Free (April 2008)
CDC: Defending Global Health, Defending Our Health discusses the CDC's history and mission. It also examines how the agency's global health efforts benefit the U.S. as well as other nations, arguing that these efforts need to be fully funded to be successful. 4 pp. Free (Updated April 2008)
Dying for Coverage For the more than 47 million Americans who are uninsured, lack of health insurance can have dire consequences—medical debt, missed care, and even premature death. We've created the first-ever state reports on the number of deaths due to lack of health insurance. 4 pp. Free (March 2008)
9 Million Children and Counting: The Administration's Attack on Health Coverage for America's Children examines how the President's two vetoes of CHIP reauthorization legislation, combined with the August 2007 CMS directive, will jeopardize health care for thousands of children. And the President's proposed fiscal year 2009 budget would hurt children's coverage even more. 8 pp. Free (February 2008)
Global Health Medical Technologies: Status Critical This chart summarizes the status of medical technologies for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases. 4 pp. Free (February 2008)
Fighting the World's Most Devastating Diseases: A Plan for Closing the Research Gap Tuberculosis (TB), malaria, HIV/AIDS, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) cause millions of deaths worldwide every year, reduce economic growth, and fracture political stability. New medical interventions are desperately needed for these diseases. This piece discusses how we can make progress in fighting these deadly diseases by dramatically expanding our research investment. 12 pp. Free (February 2008)
President’s Budget Delays Medical Progress The President’s 2009 budget proposal would cut funding for NIH and the CDC, two of our nation’s premier biomedical institutes. These funding cuts would undermine our efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and other diseases that are devastating our world—and put America’s health at risk. 4 pp. Free (January 2008)
Universal and Equal: Ensuring Equity in State Health Care Reform States across the country are looking for ways to expand affordable, quality health coverage to more people, but few states have focused specifically on the problem of inequality in health care. This piece presents strategies advocates can use to integrate health equity into larger health reform efforts, as well as a checklist they can use to evaluate their states' proposed expansions. From The Opportunity Agenda and Families USA. 8 pp. Free (January 2008)
Reward/Penalty Plans for Wellness: Coming Soon to an Office Near You? Encouraging healthy lifestyles is important, but might some wellness plans place your access to health care at risk? This piece explores some of the hidden effects that reward/penalty plans for wellness may have on consumers, as well as the problems that these plans might present in both employer-sponsored coverage and Medicaid. 8 pp. Free (January 2008)
Insure Missouri: Too Little, Too Late examines Governor Blunt's proposal to provide health coverage to uninsured Missourians. It finds that the plan's eligibility criteria leave out many low-income uninsured adults, the coverage offered is missing key benefits, the cost-sharing is too high, and the plan is built on shaky financing mechanisms. 10 pp. Free (January 2008)
Confronting Disparities while Reforming Health Care: A Look at Massachusetts examines how state advocates were able to build on expansion efforts and address the host of issues that affect disparities in health and health care. Includes an extensive discussion of lessons that can be learned from the Massachusetts experience. 10 pp. Free (Updated January 2008)
