The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
The Uninsured and Their Access to Health Care
Drawing on data from the updated Uninsured in America: A Chart Book (May 2000), this fact sheet outlines the problem of the uninsured in America, providing data on the growing number of uninsured Americans and a profile of the uninsured population. It also explores causes of uninsurance and synthesizes studies on the effects of going without health coverage.
During the 1999 legislative year, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed legislation addressing patient protections under health care plans. The purpose of this brief overview is to highlight in broad terms the key similarities and differences between the bills in four general areas: scope of coverage; patient protections; benefit claims and appeals procedures; and ERISA preemption of state laws and health plan liability (including expanded patients’ rights to sue and remedies). This brief comparison does not address certain other provisions contained in the bills (including those relating to HealthMarts and Association Health Plans found only in the House bill) or their various revenue-related proposals.
Briefing Resource List
The Gender of Politics:How (and How Much) Will Women Influence Election 2000?Tuesday, April 18, 2000Briefing ParticipantsOther ResourcesAnalysts and ResearchersPollstersWomen’s Political OrganizationsVoter Education/InformationAdditional Voter Education WebsitesNational Political PartiesPolitical Analysts/StrategistsEmerging Issues in Reproductive Health, Program Contacts
Kellyanne Fitzpatrick, JDCEO and President The Polling Company1220 Connecticut Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20036 Press contact: Maria RauchTel. 202.667.6557Fax. 202.467.6551E-mail: info@pollingcompany.com
Anna Greenberg, PhDAssistant Professor of Public PolicyJohn F. Kennedy School of GovernmentHarvard University79 JFK StreetCambridge, MA 02138Tel. 617.495.8343Fax. 617.495.8696E-mail: anna_greenberg@harvard.edu
Timothy F. MooneyVice President, Political AffairsVoter.com400 N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite G-100Washington, DC 20001Press contact: Keith AppellTel. 703.683.5004, ext.112Fax. 703.683.1703E-mail: keith@crc4pr.comWebsite: www.voter.com
Sheila O’ConnellPolitical DirectorEMILY’s List805 15th Street, NW, Suite 400Washington, DC 20005Press contact: Elizabeth PineTel. 202.326.1400Fax. 202.326.1415E-mail: epine@emilyslist.org Website: www.emilyslist.org
Karlyn Bowman, PhDResident FellowAmerican Enterprise Institute1150 17th Street, NWWashington, DC 20036Press contact: Danielle MaxwellTel. 202.862.5873Fax. 202.862.7177E-mail: dmaxwell@aei.org
Susan Carroll, PhDSenior Research AssociateCenter for American Women and PoliticsEagleton Institute of PoliticsRutgers University191 Ryders LaneNew Brunswick, NJ 08901Press contact: Gilda MoralesTel. 732.932.9384, ext.264Fax. 732.932.6778E-mail: cawp@rci.rutgers.edu
Andrew KohutDirectorThe Pew Research Center for the People and the Press1150 18th Street, NW, Suite 975Washington, DC 20036Tel. 202.293.3126Fax. 202.293.2569E-mail: mailprc@aol.comWebsite:
www.people-press.orgAlina Salganicoff, PhD Director for Women’s Health Policy & Associate Director, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid & the UninsuredZoe Beckerman, MPH Policy Analyst, Women’s Health PolicyKaiser Family Foundation1450 G Street, NW, Suite 250Washington, DC 20005Tel. 202.347.5270Fax. 202.347.5274E-mail: asalganicoff@kff.org
Linda DiVall (Republican)American Viewpoint300 N. Lee Street, Suite 400Alexandria, VA 22314Press contact: Marsha DouglasTel. 703.684.3325Fax. 703.684.9295
Ed Goeas (Republican)President and CEOThe Tarrance Group201 North Union Street, Suite 410Alexandria, VA 22314Tel. 703.684.6688Fax. 703.836.8256
Celinda Lake (Democrat)Lake Snell Perry Research1726 M Street, NW, Suite 500Washington, DC 20036Press contact: Joann BladuellTel. 202.776.9066Fax. 202.776.9074E-mail: jbladuell@lspa.com
Women’s Political Organizations
Roselyn O’ConnellPresidentNational Women’s Political Caucus1630 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 201Washington, DC 20009Press contact: Beth KanterTel. 202.785.1100Fax. 202.785.3605E-mail: polnwpc@aol.com
Terese Coling and Ruth Powers, Co-ChairsThe Women’s Campaign Fund734 15th Street, NW, Suite 500Washington, DC 20005Press contact: Erica HenriTel. 202.393.8164Fax. 202.393.0649E-mail: erica@wcfonline.org
Karen RayeExecutive DirectorThe WISH List3205 N Street, NWWashington, DC 20007Press contact: Debbie SlineTel. 202.342.9111Fax. 202.342.9190E-mail: wishpac@aol.com
Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins, PhDPresidentLeague of Women Voters1730 M Street, NW, Suite 1000Washington, DC 20036-4508Press contact: Paul BoertleinTel. 202.429.1965Fax. 202.429.0854E-mail: pboertlein@lwv.orgWebsite: www.leagueofwomenvoters.org
Richard KimballExecutive DirectorProject Vote SmartOne Common GroundPhilipsburg, MT 59858Press contact: Adelaide ElmTel. 406.859.8683Fax. 406.859.8680E-mail: aelm@vote-smart.orgWebsite: www.vote-smart.orgReporters’ Resource CenterTel. 406.859.8690
Deborah Wadsworth, MAExecutive DirectorPublic Agenda6 E. 39th StreetNew York, NY 10016Press contact: Matthew SchuermanTel. 212.686.6610, ext.40Fax. 212.889.3461E-mail: mschuerman@publicagenda.orgWebsite: www.publicagenda.orgMarie Wilson, MAPresidentThe White House Project110 Wall Street, 2nd FloorPress contact: James DevittTel. 212.785.6001, ext.13Fax. 212.785.6007E-mail: jdevitt@thewhitehouseproject.orgWebsite: www.thewhitehouseproject.org
Additional Voter Education Websites
The Democracy Networkwww.dnet.orgA non-profit, non-partisan project of the League of Women Voters Education Fund and the Center for Governmental Studies, this site enables users to compare candidates by issue and e-mail questions to candidates.
iVillagewww.iVillage.comThis site organized by and for women offers on-line voter registration as well as polling results and information on a range of issues.
Jenny BackusPress SecretaryDemocratic National Committee430 S. Capitol Street, SEWashington, DC 20003Tel. 202.863.8033Fax. 202.863.7194Website: www.democrats.org
Mike CollinsPress SecretaryRepublican National Committee310 First Street, SEWashington, DC 20003Tel. 202.863.8550Fax. 202.863.8773Website: www.rnc.org
Political Analysts/Strategists
Ann Lewis (Democrat)Counselor to the PresidentThe White House1600 Pennsylvania AvenueWashington, DC 20500-0004Tel. 202.456.2644
Tanya Melich (Republican)Political Issues Management136 East 57th Street, Suite 1305New York, NY 10022Tel. 212.759.9155
Emerging Issues in Reproductive Health, Program Contacts:
Tina Hoff, Director, Public Health Information and CommunicationsKristin Leo, Program CoordinatorAmy Weitz, Communications OfficerKaiser Family Foundation2400 Sand Hill RoadMenlo Park, CA 94025Tel. 650.854.9400Fax. 650.854.7465
Susan Lamontagne, Managing PartnerAndrea Miller, Managing PartnerMedia Strategies, Inc.611 Broadway, Suite 206New York, NY 10012Tel. 212.260.1520Fax. 212.260.9058
Health Coverage and Access: Policy Issues For Women
This chartpack provides briefing materials that review the key health coverage and access concerns facing American women. Issues that are addressed include women’s role in the health system, insurance coverage and access to care, managed care, contraceptive coverage, Medicare reform, and assistance with long-term care.
This report, Medicaid Enrollment in 21 States: June 1997 -June 1999, prepared by Health Management Associates, includes enrollment data obtained directly from state Medicaid and CHIP programs. Findings show that across the 21 states, which represent 73% of total Medicaid enrollment, enrollment fell from 23.2 million in June 1997 to 22.6 million in June 1998, but turned upward in June 1999 to 22.9 million. State-by-state data is included for: Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Ilinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.
The Kaiser Family Foundation announced that it will create television and radio public service announcements (PSAs) aimed at connecting disadvantaged youth with technology resources and training. The PSAs, along with a coordinated effort to develop a national database of youth-oriented community technology centers, were announced at an East Palo Alto event on April 17th hosted by President Clinton.
New data prepared for the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured released April 12 find recent Medicaid enrollment increases in more than half of the 21 states surveyed. A companion report describes survey results on ways states are trying to simplify the enrollment process.
Public health agencies and managed care organizations share responsibility for the health of the populations they serve. Their relationships are particularly important in the area of STDs. This study analyzes the evolving relationships between managed care organizations and public health agencies in how they manage the prevention, treatment, and tracking of STDs.
Kaiser Public Opinion Update, April 2000
summarizes key findings from past surveys on the uninsured conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health and a new survey conducted by the Foundation in conjunction with The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. The surveys show that the public is concerned about the problem of the uninsured, but that solutions remain elusive because of the lack of public consensus on the best approach and the lack of willingness to pay for solutions.