Avoiding the Wrong Lessons From the VA and HealthCare.gov Problems May 27, 2014 Perspective This was published as a Wall Street Journal Think Tank column on May 27, 2014. Problems with the launch of HealthCare.gov and with veterans hospitals allegedly concealing long waits for care feed a narrative that government doesn’t work. But many government programs, including Medicare and Social Security, work well. And there are…
What’s Driving the GOP Health Plan May 30, 2014 Perspective This was published as a Wall Street Journal Think Tank column on May 30, 2014. Conservative House Republicans are pushing for a vote on a GOP health-care plan, presumably to appeal to their base, to give GOP candidates health reform ideas to talk about on the campaign trail and to show that…
How Much Political Coverage of the Health-Care Law Is Too Much? June 5, 2014 Perspective This was published as a Wall Street Journal Think Tank column on June 5, 2014. With primaries underway and the midterms approaching, coverage of the Affordable Care Act will increasingly focus on politics. Many political reporters may take temporary control of the health-care beat during the leadup to November. News organizations should…
On Medicaid Expansion, Red States Will Be Watching Red States June 30, 2014 Perspective This was published as a Wall Street Journal Think Tank column on June 30, 2014. Since the Supreme Court made expanding Medicaid optional for states under the Affordable Care Act, 26 states have expanded Medicaid. Three of the 24 states that have not–Indiana, Utah and Pennsylvania–are considering expanding via federal waivers that…
What Women Think of the Core Issue in the Hobby Lobby Case June 30, 2014 Perspective This was published as a Wall Street Journal Think Tank column on June 30, 2014. The Supreme Court decision upholding Hobby Lobby’s ability to refuse to cover certain contraceptive services based on its owners’ religious beliefs has set off a wave of analysis of what the decision means. That will not be…
What’s Trending in Health Care? Conservative Ideas July 15, 2014 Perspective In his latest column for The Wall Street Journal’s Think Tank, Drew Altman cuts through the political debate and reviews how some ideas conservatives like are taking hold in the American health system.
One Year into Duals Demo Enrollment: Early Expectations Meet Reality August 13, 2014 Perspective One year into initial enrollment in the Medicare-Medicaid financial alignment demonstrations for dual eligible beneficiaries, some initial insights are beginning to emerge. This policy insight highlights key challenges and trends emerging in states’ demonstrations.
A Perilous Gap in Health Insurance Literacy September 4, 2014 Perspective In this column for The Wall Street Journal’s Think Tank, Drew Altman discusses how progress in expanding coverage requires greater attention to the problem of health insurance literacy.
How the Midterms Factor Into Medicaid Expansion November 3, 2014 Perspective In this column for The Wall Street Journal’s Think Tank, Drew Altman discusses how Democratic victories in several close gubernatorial races on Tuesday could revive efforts to expand Medicaid.
How 13 Million Americans Could Lose Insurance Subsidies November 19, 2014 Perspective This was published as a Wall Street Journal Think Tank column on November 19, 2014. The Supreme Court is expected to rule next year on King v. Burwell, the lawsuit in which the federal government’s authority to provide financial assistance to people who buy insurance in federally operated insurance exchanges is being challenged…
