I want to highlight two really good comments from yesterday’s post on Medicare for All as a means or as an end in and of itself: First from Barbara: What people like about Medicare is its “thereness.” You have it no matter what. That’s what it’s like in other countries. You just show the card …
You be the referee
I’ve been reducing the amount of refereeing that I’ve been doing for a variety of reasons so I have been negligent on these threads. Let’s look at a few scenarios. a) IFAB changed the rules this year. Fouls in the box committed mainly by the feet that deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity which do …
Hold my beer: Health Policy edition
Kevin Drum is too optimistic: The CBO has basically told us already that the old version of Trumpcare was as bad as just repealing Obamacare and not replacing it with anything. The ultras in the House want to make Trumpcare even worse, but it’s a little hard to see how they can do that. Can …
Super Ugly Waiver (It’s back)
The AHCA is not yet dead. It was just resting for a bit before joining the choir invisible. The New York Times reports that the White House and the House Freedom Caucus (the hard right flank of the House GOP) have been talking and thinking they have the contours of a deal. The terms, described …
Means, ends and Medicare for All
Jared Bernstein is offering what he terms to be a compelling idea for offense. It is Medicare for All. we should also aim higher, building off the compelling fact that other countries already provide universal or near-universal coverage to their citizens while spending about half of what we do as a share of GDP. Their …
Cassidy-Collins is still percolating
Just a heads up, Cassidy-Collins is still percolating in the background of health policy. And it has the chance of being a winner on purely Republican terms as it forces the issue out of DC and makes health policy the problem of the governors. Do not be surprised if this keeps on showing up again …
Why pay for what is needed?
The Washington Post reports on a punitive policy idea out of Wisconsin: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican who not only supports work requirements and premium payments but also a new additional condition: to make applicants undergo a drug test if they’re suspected of substance abuse. If Walker gets his way, Wisconsin would be the …