Health Care System Reform - Ideas & Plans

Primary Listings

Aspen Institute’s 10 Principles for Health Stewardship

Aspen Institute has Ten Principles for health stewardship. They address access, personal responsibility for health, Value & Quality, Health Span (not just more & more treatment), culture change, information technology, transparency, equity, population health and a concept of considering health in all facets of policy, are some of the still-relevant topics. Provided by the non-profit organization Aspen Institute. The Aspen Health Stewardship Project, 2009

CED’s Ideas on Health Care Policies and Reform

The Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, business-led public policy organization. Health Care is one of their policy issues. While embracing access, quality and affordability, the organization favors market-driven reforms, competition and cost-conscious consumer choice. CED is led by business executives. Updated 2023.

European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies describes policies of health systems in over 50 countries in the world. Published policy articles also available. The Observatory is a World Health Organization-hosted (WHO) partnership. Updated 2022.

Health Reform – Consumer Thoughts about ACA and Healthcare

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll from March 2022 shows 55% of the public had a favorable view of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed in 2010. A substantial majority (87%) of Democrats continue to support ACA, while 79% of Republicans do not support it. Nearly 6 in 10 (58%) of Independents have a favorable opinion of the law (38% of Independents are unfavorable). Support for the ACA was favorable in all income brackets. However, by age group, only half of the 50 to 64 year olds are favorable toward the ACA. The Kaiser Health Tracking Poll shows results back to 2010. The latest update published March 2022. According to a Pew survey (published October 20, 2022), Health care was the second most important issue for Democrats in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections (after Abortion). However, for a majority of Republicans, only Immigration was a very important issue.

Health Reform: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)

Health Reform research from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) includes publications, public opinion polls, state-by-state information, information and commentary by others. Covers Affordable Care Act, health insurance marketplace, coverage under the American Rescue Plan Act, opinions by Democrats, Independents and Republicans, and much more. Updated 2022.

NFIB – Health Reform Principles for Small Business

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) articulates Small Business Health Reform Principles. NFIB is a large nonprofit advocacy association for small businesses. The principles outlined relate to affordability, flexibility and predictability. Published March 2021.

RAND COMPARE Publications on Health Care Costs

Recent 2023 publications from RAND COMPARE address healthcare costs. RAND COMPARE is an evidence-based approach to providing information and tools to help policymakers, the media, and other interested parties understand, design, and evaluate health policies. RAND Health, a division of the RAND Corporation, is one of the world’s largest private health research groups.

Citizens’ Health Care Working Group: Final Recommendations 9-25-06 Editor's Pick

Citizens’ Health Care Working Group: Final Recommendations, September 25, 2006. After input from more than 14,000 engaged citizens, the national working group delivered its recommendations to the President. Six recommendations called for immediate action and public policy that all Americans have affordable health care; that quality and efficiency be improved, and end-of-life-care be reformed. In recommending that core health care benefits and services be defined, it shares data that the people think consumers and medical professionals should define these benefits, rather than insurance companies. The group calls for affordable access to health care to be achieved by 2012. Summary and Appendix C (poll results) should be required reading for Congress and White House staff. Unfortunately the survey left out the question of how to encourage personal responsibility for exercising, eating right, and other healthy behaviors. Still, Editor’s Pick. It’s a classic.

Other Helpful Listings

Are Health Savings Accounts and High Deductible Health Plans An Option for Low-Income Families?

How good are HSAs and High Deductible health plans for low income families? Kaiser Family Foundation concludes that most low-income families would NOT benefit from the use of HSAs and high deductible health plans (HDHPs). Reasons include low level of earnings, the amount of overall income that such plans consume, and that such plans reduce the use of preventive and primary health care services. Issue Brief published Oct. 4, 2006

Health Insurance Coverage and the Uninsured, 2021

Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2021 provides information and statistics about the uninsured and people with insurance. Information was collected in the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the American Community Survey (ACS). Overall, the uninsured rate was estimated at 8.3%. For working-age adults, the uninsured rate was 11.6%. For those who were not citizens, about 1/3 were uninsured. Check the 2019 report to see rates of uninsured by state (the highest rates were in Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi.) The 2018 report goes further to show the percent uninsured mapped by Congressional district. US Census Bureau (census.gov) report was issued September 2022.

How Important is Health Care in 2022? (KFF Survey)

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll (KFF survey) shows  two health care concerns were among the top four that most people thought are important for the upcoming 2022 midterm elections. The top health-related concerns were healthcare costs (#3), and abortion access (#4). Those two ranked behind inflation concerns (#1) and gun violence (#2). All top four issues were identified by a majority of respondents as being “very important”. The Covid-19 pandemic came in 7th, with 1 in 3 people ranking it as “very important”. Three other general issues were asked about and ranked: federal budget deficit (#5), climate change (#6) and the war in Ukraine (#8). Political party affiliation was identified for each respondent, including Independents. Survey of 1,847 adults, by the Kaiser Family Foundation July 7 to July 17, 2022.