Independence Institute: Patient Power

Cutting tax rates would fund charitable programs to replace government charities

Brian Schwartz — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:01:53 +0000

From the Pacific Research Institute:

In 2005, Americans contributed $48 billion to health and social services via individual donations, as well as through … [visit site to read more]

Three health care proposals to oppose

Brian Schwartz — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:00:09 +0000

Michael Cannon writes in the Washington Times that do avoid disastrous health care reform, we must oppose:

Government-run health care for the middle class (which Obama has proposed)
mandatory insurance
insurance price controls (e.g., community rating)

On point 1, Cannon … [visit site to read more]

Federal Health Board could extend government-controlled insurance

Brian Schwartz — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:00:27 +0000

Tom Daschle’s proposed Federal Health Board could regulate health insurance companies such that they are effectively all selling the same government-controlled product. Consider the following from Robert E. Moffit:

While the health board decisions would initially affect enrollees in government health programs, Senator Daschle says that Congress “…could, for example, link … [visit site to read more]

Pay for Performance Perils

Brian Schwartz — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:00:36 +0000

Last year’s Senate Bill 217’s (enacted in June ‘08) would have “value benefit plans” that would “encourage the use of a pay-for-performance system for reimbursing health care providers, where appropriate.” Barack Obama’s health care czar Tom Daschle has visit site to read more]

Polis vs. Polis on health care

Brian Schwartz — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:00:48 +0000

Jared Polis

Dr. Paul Hsieh of Freedom and Individual Rights in Medicine had an excellent op-ed in the (Boulder) Daily Camera yesterday. He … [visit site to read more]

RMN: Liberty is best prescription for health care

Brian Schwartz — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:04:50 +0000

As published in the Rocky Mountain News:

At the recent Colorado Health Care Summit, Barack Obama’s Cabinet pick Tom Daschle said his boss’s “commitment to changing the health-care system remains strong and focused.” But in the wrong direction.

Obama has stated that “capitalism is great for consumers” when they have “many alternatives,” when customers, “not government bureaucrats … are the judges of what best serves their needs.” Obama’s health insurance proposals fail these standards and would fail patients.

… [visit site to read more]

Government health insurance: a political power grab

Brian Schwartz — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 08:00:21 +0000

From Paul Starr’s The Social Transformation of American Medicine: The rise of a sovereign profession and the making of a vast industry (Basic Books, New York. 1982. P. 235).

“Whoever provides medical care or pays the costs of illness stands to gain the gratitude and good will of the sick and their families. The prospect of these good-will returns to the investment in health care creates a powerful motive … [visit site to read more]

Medicaid & Medicare drive up insurance premiums

Brian Schwartz — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:00:32 +0000

A common, and flawed, justification for mandatory medical insurance is that the uninsured drive up the costs of insurance premiums. You know, by using the emergency room for their medical care. Yet, as I’ve noted before, Medicaid patients burden ERs more than the uninsured. Worse … [visit site to read more]

“Colorado Guaranteed Health Care Act” doesn’t guarantee health care

Brian Schwartz — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:00:49 +0000

State Representative John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, says that under his single-payer health care plan, the “Colorado Guaranteed Health Care Act,” “people can choose their own doctor and get high-quality care.” Here he overlooks a critical distinction: health insurance or prepaid health care is not the same as health care. In states and countries that have some form of “universal coverage” people do not get the care they need.

For example, the Commonwealth Fund visit site to read more]

Obama vs. his economic advisors, Part II

Brian Schwartz — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:00:01 +0000

In a previous post I discussed how Obama’s advisor Jason Furman is critical of employer-sponsored insurance, even though Obama wants to “strengthen it.” In this Cato Institute podcast Michael Cannon talks about how other advisors have been critical of Obama’s health care policy proposals.

For example, Larry Summers will be head of the White House’s National Economic Council. On forcing employers to … [visit site to read more]