This document includes the complete toplines from a survey of the public’s attitudes regarding the health care agenda for Bush’s second term and the new Congress in 2005. It assesses the relative priority placed on health-care concerns by the American public and also provides insight into public opinion on key issues likely to face the new Congress, such as implementing the Medicare drug law, controlling health care costs, reducing the nation’s uninsured population and reforming the malpractice litigation system.

Survey Toplines (.pdf)

A national Kaiser Family Foundation survey of older Americans found that as the Internet becomes an increasingly important resource for informing decisions about health and health care options, less than a third (31%) of seniors (age 65 and older) have ever gone online, but that more than two-thirds (70%) of the next generation of seniors (50-64 year-olds) have done so.

The differences among seniors and 50-64 year-olds are striking and indicate that online resources for health information may soon play a much larger role among older Americans. Twenty-one percent of seniors have gone online to look for health information compared to 53% of 50-64 year-olds; 8% of seniors get “a lot” of health information online compared to 24% of 50-64 year-olds; the Internet is 5th on a list of media sources of health information for seniors compared to first among 50-64 year-olds; and 26% of seniors trust the Internet “a lot” or “some” to provide accurate health information, compared to 58% of 50-64 year-olds.

The survey is a nationally representative, random digit dial telephone survey of 1,450 adults age 50 and older, including 583 respondents age 65 and older. The report was released at a briefing held in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, January 12, 2005.

Survey Report (.pdf)

This fact sheet provides a brief introduction to Section 1115 waivers in the Medicaid program and highlights policy issues related to recent waiver activity.

Fact Sheet (.pdf)

Medicaid: Issues In Restructuring Federal Financing

This brief analysis summarizes how the possible restructuring of Medicaid financing could impact states, providers, and beneficiaries.

Issue Brief (.pdf)

The Distributional Consequences of a Medicare Premium Support Proposal

This article analyzes the expected distributional impact of enacting a premium support proposal for Medicare based on legislation introduced by Sen. Breaux and Sen. Frist in 1999. This legislation suggested that the Federal Employees Health Benefits plan be used as a model for Medicare. The article simulates impacts in three areas: among beneficiaries who choose to retain fee-for-service coverage, between different geographic areas, and according to various beneficiary characteristics. Finally, the article discusses how results from this study would compare to those that may occur under the premium support demonstration project, beginning in 2010, established under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003.

The Distributional Consequences of a Medicare premium Support Proposal (.pdf)

This research was funded by the Kaiser Family Foundation and is presented here courtesy of the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law.

Complete Survey Toplines for the Kaiser Health Poll Report: 2004

The Kaiser Health Poll Report is designed to provide key tracking information on public opinion about health care topics to journalists, policymakers and the general public.

January/February

March/April

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November/December

This policy brief, prepared by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the George Washington University Center for Health Services Research and Policy, examines the opportunities and challenges associated with the delivery of HIV prevention services in, or closely linked to, the clinical care setting. It focuses on two of the major public programs for HIV care in the U.S., Medicaid and the Ryan White CARE Act. The brief assesses the extent to which current law allows the provision of prevention within these programs and examines current practice. It also outlines several options for research, technical assistance, and policy that could serve to enhance opportunities for integration of HIV prevention and care.

Policy Brief (.pdf)

A summary of Latino experiences and opinions regarding access to health care in the District of Columbia, this brief also contrasts the experiences of Latinos in the District of Columbia with those of Latinos nationally.

Report (.pdf)

This survey documents the increasing costs of retiree benefits for both large private-sector employers and their retirees. It also provides an early look at the response of large employers to the Medicare prescription drug law and the subsidies it provides for maintaining retiree drug coverage.

Download Full Report (.pdf)

Chartpack (.pdf)

The Impact of Medicaid Reductions in Oregon: Focus Group Insights

Oregon is one state that has significantly restructured its Medicaid program, known as the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), in response to budget pressures. As part of these changes, it has implemented significant benefit reductions and increased premiums and cost sharing in it’s program for poor parents and other adults. This report presents findings from five focus groups conducted of current and former enrollees in Oregon’s health programs in an effort to see how the changes have affected individuals.

Report (.pdf)