Recent Briefings

Health insurance exchanges can potentially serve a variety of policy ends, from promoting transparency and competition among health plans, to pooling or reallocating risk and administering subsidies for those unable to afford health insurance premiums. This briefing, cosponsored by the Alliance and The Commonwealth Fund, looked at how the House and Senate reform bills deal with exchanges. One major difference is that the House proposal would set up a national exchange, with states having the right to opt out; the Senate version envisions state exchanges. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each approach? How do the respective bills address the issue of risk adjustment? Who is allowed to participate in the exchanges?  Read More

Unhealthy behavior is costing America billions in health care expenditures, and making us less healthy as a people. Many large employers, recognizing the impact on the health of their workers and the companies’ bottom lines, offer financial incentives to their employees to exercise regularly, improve their diets, lose weight and quit smoking, among other things. In the course of the health reform debate, the issue has arisen: which behaviors or health outcomes should be encouraged, and how large should the incentives be? What types of prevention models are working for business to keep workers healthier and restrain health costs? To answer these questions and others, the Alliance for Health Reform and AARP sponsored a December 7 briefing. Read More

One of the main goals of health reform is to increase access to health care. Frequently overlooked in this effort is finding effective and efficient mechanisms for determining eligibility and enrolling those who are eligible for existing public programs, primarily Medicaid and the the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). How can recruitment and enrollment be streamlined? How can enrollment in public programs affect states’ budgets? To answer these questions and others, the Alliance for Health Reform and PhRMA sponsored a December 1 briefing.  Read More

The health reform proposals being considered in the House and Senate may impose responsibilities on both individuals and employers to have, and help pay for, coverage. Subsidies for some small businesses and for individuals with incomes up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level have been proposed. But will individuals and businesses be able to pay the amounts required of them above the subsidies? This Nov. 20 briefing cosponsored by the Alliance and The Commonwealth Fund explored this question and related ones.  Read More

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) play a crucial role in the U.S. health insurance system by providing coverage for more than one in four children. And yet, more than 8 million children remain uninsured today, 70 percent of whom are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. What factors influence children’s coverage? How could the reform bills in Congress change children's coverage? To discuss these questions and others, the Alliance for Health Reform and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation sponsored a November 13 briefing.  Read More