Publications: 2005
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Falling Short: Medicare Prescription Drug Plans Offer Meager Savings
How well did the Medicare prescription drug plans (PDPs) do in giving seniors low drug prices? This report compares the base drug prices reported by Medicare drug plans with the prices negotiated through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 19 pp. Free (December 2005)
Stop Bad Ideas—AHPs: Bad Medicine for Small Employers
Association Health Plans (AHPs) are a major part of the President's package of health care proposals aimed at reducing the growing number of uninsured Americans. This fact sheet finds that AHPs are not a solution for the number of uninsured, are not an effective way to control costs, and provide fertile ground for fraud and abuse. 5 pp. Free (December 2005)
Stop Bad Ideas—HSAs: Missing the Target
This fact sheet examines the effects that health savings accounts (HSAs) will have on the uninsured and on the health care system overall. It finds that HSAs won't reduce the number of uninsured, are not an effective way to control costs, are inequitable, and are a radical threat to our current health insurance system. 7 pp. Free (December 2005)
Stop Bad Ideas—Too Little, Too Late: Why a $1,000 Tax Credit Won’t Help the Uninsured
Every year since 2001, President Bush has proposed a $1,000 tax credit to help uninsured people purchase health insurance in the individual market. This fact sheet finds that his tax credit is justified by questionable studies, is tied to the flawed individual market, and wouldn't make insurance affordable. 4 pp. Free (December 2005)
"Reforming" Medicaid: How State Waivers Will Hurt Racial and Ethnic Minorities
An examination of the potentially negative impact that recently proposed changes to the South Carolina and Florida Medicaid programs will have on minority health. This issue brief also explores the role of Medicaid in improving access to health care for racial and ethnic minorities and analyzes the threat that state Medicaid waivers pose to the health of minority populations. 7 pp. Free (November 2005)
Good for Kids, Good for the Economy: Health Coverage for All Kids in Illinois
A discussion of how Governor Blagojevich's All Kids proposal would expand health coverage for the state's children while helping the economy, bringing federal dollars to the state and generating significant economic activity. 8 pp. Free. (October 2005)
Cost-Sharing in Medicaid: It's Not about "Skin in the Game"—It's about Lives on the Line
Faced with budget shortfalls and rising Medicaid costs, states are asking the federal government for broad discretion to increase cost-sharing in Medicaid. This fact sheet discusses how increased cost-sharing deters low-income people from enrolling in coverage and seeking necessary health care, which leads to higher costs in the long run. 4 pp. Free (September 2005)
The Choice: Health Care for People or Drug Industry Profits
This report examines drug industry profits and spending patterns to determine if Medicaid payments to drug companies could be reduced without harming either Medicaid enrollees' access to medications or the drug companies' ability to conduct necessary research and development. | Key Findings 36 pp. $15.00 (September 2005)
Getting the Best Price: Lessons Learned from the Medicare Discount Card Program
Families USA examined how well the Medicare discount card program did in negotiating lower drug prices for those in Medicare. We found that, for the 50 drugs most frequently prescribed to seniors, the lowest Medicare discount card price was almost always much higher than the lowest price negotiated by one large government purchaser, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 27 pp. $15.00 (September 2005)
Gearing Up Series--The Holes in Part D: Gaps in the New Medicare Drug Benefit (Part 1 of 2)
This brief discusses the three major kinds of gaps associated with the Part D benefit: 1) the financial gap beneficiaries will face; 2) the drug coverage gap; and 3) the enrollment gap. 15 pp. Free (July 2005)
Gearing Up Series--Filling the Holes in Part D: The Essential Role of State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (Part 2 of 2)
This brief examines the key decisions states will have to make when determining how their Pharmacy Assistance Programs can provide wraparound coverage and explains the special role of these programs under the Medicare drug law. It also discusses how these programs can help with enrollment. (July 2005)
What Consumers Need to Know about Buying Health Coverage from Associations 2 pp. Free (July 2005)
What Consumers Need to Know about Health Savings Accounts 2 pp. Free (July 2005)
What Consumers Need to Know about Purchasing Health Insurance as an Individual 2 pp. Free (July 2005)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Analysis of the National Governors Association's Medicaid Reform Proposal 8 pp. Free (July 2005)
Trouble Brewing? New Medicare Drug Law Puts Low-Income People at Risk
The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) was touted as a program that would help all Medicare enrollees, particularly the neediest, obtain prescription drug coverage. Now there is evidence that a flaw in the MMA will cause serious harm to many of the most vulnerable elderly and people with disabilities. 8 pp. Free (July 2005)
Paying a Premium: The Added Cost of Care for the Uninsured
This report quantifies, for the first time, the dollar impact on private health insurance premiums of care provided to the uninsured. 35 pp. $15.00 (June 2005)
State-Level Impact of Federal Budget Agreement on Medicaid contains tables showing how much money states could lose if Congress adopts its proposed Medicaid cuts, as well as tables showing how many children and seniors could be covered if those cuts weren't made. 3 pp. (Revised May 9, 2005)
Utah's Primary Care Network Medicaid Program provides a summary of the program and discusses the negative impact the program has had on the state's Medicaid program and the people who rely on Medicaid. 8 pp. (April 2005)
Showdown in the Show-Me State: Governor Blunt vs. Medicaid
A look at Missouri's proposed severe Medicaid cuts, which would drive the state from the middle of the road to the bottom of the pack in terms of coverage for parents. 8 pp. Free (March 2005)
Numbers, Numbers, Numbers—One Bottom Line: Huge Medicaid Cuts Proposed discusses the many conflicting numbers proposed for Medicaid cuts and what they really mean for the program. (March 11, 2005)
Have health insurance? Think you're well protected? Think Again! This one-page fact sheet provides quick stats on how health care expenses overwhelm even insured working families, forcing many into bankruptcy. 1 p. (February 2005)
Medicaid and Minority Health: Why Cutting Medicaid Will Exacerbate Health Disparities
An analysis of the relationship between Medicaid and minority health, explores the causes of racial and ethnic health disparities, and examines how recent proposals to cut Medicaid will worsen these disparities. (February 11, 2005)
How Will Association Health Plans Affect Minority Health? Separating Fact from Fiction
An analysis of the real impact that AHPs will have on the health care access of uninsured racial and ethnic minorities. (February 2005)
Cut Medicaid--Increase Health Disparities: How Cuts to "Optional" Beneficiaries Will Affect Minority Health
An exploration of the lack of true distinction between mandatory and so-called "optional" enrollees. This brief also analyzes how proposed Medicaid cuts that target "optional" enrollees will exacerbate health disparities. (February 9, 2005)
Big Pharma Behaving Badly: A Survey of Selected Class Action Lawsuits against Drug Companies, 4th Edition
An update on recent and pending class action lawsuits alleging antitrust and consumer fraud violations by pharmaceutical manufacturers. 29 pp. $5.00 (January 2005)
HSAs: Why High-Deductible Plans Are Not the Solution
This fact sheet examines the effects that health savings accounts (HSAs) will have on those without health insurance and on the health care system overall. 7 pp. Free (January 2005)
Health Action 2005 Tool Kit A large binder filled with materials from Families USA and other sources (government agencies and other nonprofit organizations) with the latest on people without health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, and children's health coverage. Includes a section on skills and resources. $50.00. (January 2005)
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