Health Care Reform News Around the Nation for the Week of April 28

News from Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan and Missouri

Health Insurance Premiums Skyrocket

Story in US News and World Report:
Employer-based health insurance premiums have skyrocketed at a pace that far exceeds the rate of American wage increases since 2000, a new study reveals.

Senate Bill May Provide Starting Point to Fix Health Care System

Story in AAFP regarding Health Care Reform:
The Senate Finance Committee is considering legislation that could serve as the basis for major health care reform efforts during the next presidential administration, according to analysts interviewed by AAFP News Now.

Noted in story: "I will be the first to say this bill is not perfect," said Nichols. "It will not be the (health care reform) bill that actually passes in 2009 or 2010. But it is a perfect place to have a conversation."

The Public on Requiring Individuals to Have Health Insurance

Poll by NPR taken in February 2008 asking Americans questions regarding Health Care Reforms.

Sick Around the World

Info on PBS Special to be broadcast 4/15/08

In Massachusetts, Universal Coverage Strains Care

One of the issues with Universal Coverage (as discovered in Massachusetts) is that there are not enough primary care physicians to take on the new influx of patients.

Universal Health Care - But By Whom?

New York Times letters to the Editor regarding an article on the need for more primary physicians for the new health care reform.

How not to reform healthcare

A comparative effectiveness agency would help cut down on waste in the US healthcare system - but only if it's free from commercial interests
Article from Guardian UK

A Concise Rundown of Wyden's Health Care Plan

Overview of the current Health Care Plan being proposed by Sen. Wyden.

Theatre Ideas: devilvet Challenge -- Part 2

Theatre Ideas: devilvet Challenge -- Part 2

Move Health Insurance Out of the Workplace

Overviews the connection of Health Insurance and jobs

A Short History of Health Care

Article by Timothy Noah, Slate magazine on John Cohn's book Sick: The Untold Story of America's Health Care Crisis—And the People Who Paid the Price.

History of Health Insurance

This article describes the development of the U.S. health insurance system and its growth in the twentieth century. It examines the roles of important factors including medical technology, hospitals and physicians, and government policy culminating in the development of Medicare and Medicaid.

from: EH.Net * Encyclopedia * thomasson.insurance.health.us

Health Care HMOS

IMPACT OF THE CLOSURE OF HARVARD PILGRIM HEALTH CENTER OF NEW ENGLAND ON PRIMARY ARE PHYSICIANS: IMPLICATIONS FOR QUALITY OF SERVICES, THEMedicine and Health Rhode Island, Jun 2005, by Ritchie, Dianne Catherine, Mor, Vincent
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4100/is_200506/ai_n14715983