The Kaiser Family Foundation has made available a webcast entitled "The Future of Medicaid: Is It Sustainable, and Should It Be Reformed?" The webcast features the following speakers:
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
On Saturday, President Bush previewed a plan to provide a financial incentive to Americans to purchase health insurance during his weekly radio address. Bush stated, "Today, the tax code unfairly penalizes people who do not get health insurance through their job. It unwisely encourages workers to choose overly expensive, gold-plated plans. The result is that insurance premiums rise and many Americans cannot afford the coverage they need."
As reported by the Washington Post, Bush's plan would "add a new tax on employer-provided health-care plans worth more than $15,000 to subsidize those who buy modestly priced plans out of their pockets." Bush also hopes to provide Medicaid waivers that allow states to shift Medicaid funds away from nursing homes and hospitals instead grant funds to individuals so that they can purchase health insurance. Bush is expected to provide further details of his plan in his State of the Union Address on Tuesday evening.
Commenting on the proposal Post writer Michael A. Fletcher states that Bush's most recent proposal is his "most ambitious attempt to address the health-care crisis."
Last week, a coalition of sixteen organizations put forth a plan that would provide health insurance coverage for half of America's nearly 47 million uninsured. According to a press release issued by the Health Coverage Coalition for the Uninsured, the proposal was developed over a two year period.
The plan proposes providing easier access to SCHIP and Medicaid programs for parents so that they may enroll their children when they simultaneously apply for other assistance programs, such as low cost lunches and food stamps. Additionally, tax credits for those who earn up to three times the poverty level (or $60,000 for a family of four) would be available. In addition, states would receive additional funding to enroll additional children and there would be a competitive grant program that would award funds to states that develop innovative approaches to expand coverage.
The second phase of the program expands Medicaid eligibility for adults and creates a refundable credit to help individuals pay for private insurance.
The coalition organizations include the following: AARP, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, American Public Health Association, America's Health Insurance Plans, Catholic Health Association, Families USA, Federation of American Hospitals, Healthcare Leadership Council, Johnson & Johnson, Kaiser Permanente, Pfizer, Inc., United Health Foundation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Search for Common Ground-U.S. Consensus Council.
Enter keywords:
