This article, published online by Health Affairs on April 14, 2004, estimates the extent to which prescription drug discount cards could affect out-of-pocket spending by Medicare beneficiaries who lack drug coverage, based on an analysis of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. The Medicare discount card program is scheduled to go into effect in June of 2004.

Health Affairs Article

Toplines of selected findings of the March/April 2004 Kaiser Family Foundation Health Poll Report survey that underscores the need to educate seniors about the new Medicare prescription drug program.

Survey Toplines (.pdf)

– Issue Brief

The report discusses the history of “entertainment education” – the use of entertainment media as a means of educating viewers about important health and social issues – and provides the leading examples of entertainment education from American television. The report also summarizes the results of research evaluating the effectiveness of this strategy for reaching the public with information about health issues (April 2004).

Issue Brief (.pdf)

South Africans at Ten Years of Democracy – Summary and Chartpack

Summary and chartpack from, “South Africans at Ten Years of Democracy,” comprehensive, nationally representative survey of South Africans was conducted by The Washington Post, Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University to examine South Africans’ views about democracy and the challenges facing the country leading up to the April 2004 election. This extensive survey also sought to explore perceptions of how things have changed since the end of apartheid, as well as perceived challenges for the future, including issues such as unemployment, crime, race relations, and HIV/AIDS. Finally, the survey included many questions designed to illuminate the real-life experiences of South Africans, and the struggles and successes they face on a daily basis (March 2004).

Summary and Chartpack (.pdf)

On April 19, 2004 the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured held a Washington policy briefing on the basics of Medicaid financing. A webcast and transcript of the briefing are available.

Presentation Slides (.pdf)

The publications below provide background information on Medicaid financing and the latest on Medicaid waiver activity.

Reports related to Medicaid Financing and State Budgets

Financing the Medicaid Program: The Many Roles of State and Federal Matching Funds

Current Issues in Medicaid Financing — An Overview of IGTs, UPLs, and DSH

State Fiscal Conditions and Medicaid

Financing the Medicaid Program: The Impact of Federal Fiscal Relief

The Role of Medicaid in State Economies: A Look at the Research

Medicaid Spending: What Factors Contributed to the Growth Between 2000 and 2002?

States Respond to Fiscal Pressure: A 50-State Update of State Medicaid Spending Growth and Cost Containment ActionsState Responses to Budget Crisis in 2004: An Overview of 10 StatesOverview (.pdf)California Case Study (.pdf)

Is the State Fiscal Crisis Over? A 2004 State Budget Update

Medicaid and Block Grant Financing Compared

Reports on Benefits and Cost-Sharing

Medicaid: A Lower-Cost Approach to Serving a High-Cost Population

Online 50-State Benefits Database

Health Insurance Premiums and Cost-Sharing: Findings from the Research on Low-Income Families

Medicaid as a Health Insurer: Current Benefits and Flexibility

Medicaid as a Long-Term Care Program: Current Benefits and Flexibility

Reports on Waivers

Assessing the Role of Recent Waivers in Providing New Coverage

Section 1115 Medicaid and SCHIP Waivers: Policy Implications of Recent Activity

Section 1115 Waivers at a Glance: Summary of Recent Medicaid and SCHIP Waiver Activity

The New Medicaid and SCHIP Waiver Initiatives: Background Paper and Side-by-Side Comparison

State-Specific Section 1115 Waiver Fact Sheets

The Financing of Pharmacy Plus Waivers: Implications for Seniors on Medicaid of Global Funding Caps

Medicaid Basics

Medicaid at a Glance

The Medicaid Resource Book

HIV and Sexual Behaviour Among Young South Africans: A National Survey of 15-24 Year- Olds

South Africa is in the grips of a devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic in which the peak incidence occurs among 15-24 year-olds. This national survey of HIV and sexual behavior among the country’s 15-24 year-olds identifies trends in HIV infection and related determinants of infection among young people. The report also gauges the impact of loveLife, South Africa’s largest national HIV prevention initiative, on HIV and related risk behaviors. This National Youth Survey is the first of three such studies to be conducted at approximately two year intervals over the expected duration of the loveLife initiative, to track changes in HIV prevalence and sexual behavior among South African youth.

Survey Report (.pdf)

South Africans at Ten Years of Democracy – Toplines

Toplines from, “South Africans at Ten Years of Democracy,” a comprehensive, nationally representative survey of South Africans was conducted by The Washington Post, Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University to examine South Africans’ views about democracy and the challenges facing the country leading up to the April 2004 election. This extensive survey, “South Africans at Ten Years of Democracy,” also sought to explore perceptions of how things have changed since the end of apartheid, as well as perceived challenges for the future, including issues such as unemployment, crime, race relations, and HIV/AIDS. Finally, the survey included many questions designed to illuminate the real-life experiences of South Africans, and the struggles and successes they face on a daily basis (March 2004).

Survey Toplines (.pdf)

This chartpack, “Trends in U.S. Government Funding for HIV/AIDS,” provides an analysis of U.S. federal funding for HIV/AIDS since fiscal year (FY) 1981. It presents data and trends in the major categories of funding — care, cash and housing assistance, research, prevention, and global/international — over time. Cumulatively through its FY 2004, the US government has invested approximately $150 billion for domestic and international HIV/AIDS programs.

Chartpack

Issue Brief

Washington Post/Kaiser/Harvard University Survey Project

About the Partnership:

The Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University Survey Project is a joint partnership and an experiment in combining survey research and reporting to better inform the public. The Post, Kaiser, and Harvard jointly design and analyze surveys examining public knowledge, perceptions, and misperceptions on major issues. The Post then reports the results as well as facts to dispel myths and misperceptions, retaining editorial control over content published in the paper. The goal of this project is to contribute to a better understanding of public knowledge on major issues facing the country as well as more effective efforts by the media to educate, inform, and engage citizens in national debates.

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In 1999, The Kaiser Family Foundation, the Health Research and Educational Trust, and UC Berkeley undertook a supplement to the National Employer Health Benefits Survey based on California firms. Since that time, the survey has been conducted annually by Kaiser and HRET. Like the National survey, the California Employer Health Benefits Survey tracks trends in employer health insurance coverage, the cost of that coverage, and other topical health insurance issues. Findings are based on a representative sample of private employers, including those who respond to the full survey and those who indicate only whether or not they provide health coverage. California firms surveyed range in size from three to more than 300,000 employees. Some of the California firms participating in the national survey are included in this study.

For further information on national trends in employer sponsored health insurance please refer to the Kaiser/HRET Annual Employer Health Benefits Survey.

• 2003 California Employer Health Benefits Survey
• 2002 California Employer Health Benefits Survey
• 2001 California Employer Health Benefits Survey
• 2000 California Employer Health Benefits Survey
• 1999 California Employer Health Benefits Survey