Publications: 2006
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Premiums versus Paychecks: A Growing Burden for State Workers. A series of state-specific reports detailing the increased cost of health care premiums versus stagnant pay. (December 2006). Go to State Information, click on the state from drop-down menu in the right-hand column, and scroll down to Other Resources. 12 pp. Print copies $5
SCHIP and Children's Health Coverage: Leveling the Playing Field for Minority Children examines the important role that SCHIP plays in reducing disparities in access to care, as well as how the SCHIP reauthorization process can be used to further this effort. 4 pp. Free (November 2006, updated June 2007)
Six Reasons to Be Wary of High-Deductible HSA Plans 2 pp. Free (December 2006)
Stop Bad Ideas—Private Gain and Public Pain in Medicare discusses how the push to privatize Medicare has resulted in landmark profits for the drug and insurance industries at the expense of taxpayers and Medicare beneficiaries. 4 pp. Free (December 2006)
Stop Bad Ideas—How HSAs Can Drain Your Wallet and Harm Your Health presents three examples that illustrate what can happen to employees working for a hypothetical company that purchases a high-deductible health plan. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (December 2006)
Vermont's Health Reform Laws discusses the basics of the state's two new laws, known as "Catamount Health." The piece also examines how Catamount Health will be financed, how the laws build on existing health coverage programs, and pros and cons of the laws. 6 pp. Print copies $2 (December 2006)
SCHIP 101: What Is the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and How Does It Work? explains the basics about SCHIP, including who qualifies for SCHIP, how SCHIP is financed, and whether eligible are children getting enrolled. 4 pp. Free (November 2006, updated June 2007)
SCHIP and Children's Health Coverage: Fitting the Pieces Together examines where children, including low-income children, get their health coverage, as well as how SCHIP and Medicaid have reduced the number of uninsured children. 4 pp. Free (November 2006, updated June 2007)
Stop Bad Ideas—HSAs: Missing the Target examines the effects that HSAs will have on those without health insurance and on the health care system overall. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (November 2006)
Picking a Part D Plan: Déjà Vu All Over Again? discusses why beneficiaries, advocates, and health care providers should be aware of changes in Part D plans that will affect coverage in 2007. It also urges all beneficiaries to examine premiums, drug costs, formularies, and drug restrictions to find the best Medicare drug plan. 4 pp. Free (November 2006)
Coverage through the "Doughnut Hole" Grows Scarcer in 2007 examines what will happen next year to stand-alone drug plans that provide meaningful doughnut hole coverage—plans that provide doughnut hole coverage of both the generic and non-generic drugs that most seniors need. 12 pp. Print copies $2 (November 2006)
Illinois' All Kids: A Step in the Right Direction discusses this new children's coverage program, including eligibility, benefits, cost-sharing, and how the program is financed. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (October 2006)
Medicare Privatization: Windfall for the Special Interests examines how several decisions by Congress to promote privatized Medicare are costing taxpayers billions of dollars and bringing windfall profits to the insurance and drug industries. The report focuses on 1) overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans, 2) special funding for Medicare regional PPOs, and 3) prices obtained by Part D drug plans. 16 pp. Print copies $5 (October 2006)
No Shelter from the Storm: America's Uninsured Children. This report takes a closer look at uninsured children—who they are and what kinds of services they miss out on as a result of being uninsured. Written by Families USA for the Campaign for Children's Health Care. 32 pp. Print copies $15 (September 2006)
Understanding How Health Insurance Premiums Are Regulated discusses the state and federal regulation of health insurance premiums. 4 pp. Free (September 2006)
Employers Should Pay Their Fair Share for Health Care explains what employer responsibility legislation is and discusses its benefits and potential drawbacks using examples of states that have implemented such legislation. 7 pp. Free (September 2006)
H.R. 2355, The Health Care Choice Act: The Wrong Prescription for America's Health Care Needs discusses how this legislation, sponsored by Rep. Shadegg and favored by the Administration, would undermine state laws designed to protect health care consumers. 2 pp. Free (August 2006)
TABOR: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing examines the effects that so-called "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" (TABOR) state amendments will have on health care. It finds that these anti-consumer conservative initiatives will cripple a state's ability to respond to residents' needs or unforeseen disasters and will result in cuts to essential health care programs, including Medicaid. 6 pp. Print copies $2 (August 2006)
New Medicaid Regulations Discriminate against U.S.-Born Children of Immigrants focuses on a specific provision of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA), which has established regulations for citizenship documentation requirements for Medicaid. This provision creates an arbitrary and harmful distinction between children who are born in the U.S. to immigrants versus those born to citizens. 4 pp. Free (August 2006)
The Burden of Proof: New Regulations Worsen Citizenship Documentation Requirement in Medicaid examines the likely consequences of the new Medicaid citizenship documentation regulations and advises advocates on how to mitigate the harm these requirements may cause. 11 pp. Print copies $2 (July 2006)
Analysis of the Medicaid Citizenship Documentation Regulations discusses the interim final regulations that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued in July. The regulations alleviated the burden of documenting citizenship for several important groups of Medicaid beneficiaries and applicants. However, there are still many areas of concern in the new regulations, and millions of eligible Americans will have their coverage delayed or denied because of these onerous requirements. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (July 2006)
Citizenship Update: Administration Creates Additional Barriers to Medicaid Enrollment addresses several important questions regarding the citizenship documentation requirement for Medicaid under the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA), including what advocates can do to help mitigate the potential harm caused by the requirement. 11 pp. Print copies $2 (June 2006)
Big Dollars, Little Sense: Rising Medicare Prescription Drug Prices asks two key questions: 1) What has happened to Part D prices for the most frequently prescribed drugs from November 2005 to April 2006?; and 2) How do Part D drug prices now compare to the prices secured by the VA? The answers are both clear and disappointing: 1) Virtually all of the Part D plans raised their prices for the majority of the top 20 drugs in this study. 2) For all of the top 20 drugs prescribed to seniors, VA prices in April were lower than the lowest prices charged by Part D plans. 25 pp. Print copies $15.00 (June 2006)
Making History: Maryland's Fair Share Health Care Law discusses how the law works, who it affects, and the key strategies advocates used to get the law passed. It also includes a timeline of critical events. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (May 2006)
High-Risk Health Insurance Pools provides answers to key questions about high-risk pools, including who they help and how they are financed. The report also includes a list of questions consumers should ask if they are considering joining a high-risk pool, as well as a checklist for advocates. 12 pp. Print copies $2 (May 2006)
Cost-Sharing and Premiums: Shifting Costs to Those Who Can Afford It Least explains the new premium and cost-sharing options of the so-called Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) and offers strategies for advocates whose states choose to make changes that could harm people on Medicaid. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (May 2006)
Medicare Drug Program Fails to Reach Low-Income Seniors documents the slow pace of enrollment in Medicare Part D and, particularly, the program's failure to reach those most in need—the low-income seniors and people with disabilities who are entitled to special subsidies. 11 pp. Print copies $2 (May 2006)
The Enzi Bill: Bad Medicine for America summarizes the flaws in this legislation and provides state-by-state listings of consumer protections that will be lost and the numbers of people affected if the Enzi bill is enacted. 9 pp. Print copies $2 (May 2006)
April Fools for Medicare Part D Beneficiaries? Transitional Benefits End April 1 On April 1, 2006, Medicare beneficiaries lose the protection of extended transition benefits. This memo explains what this means for beneficiaries and what they can do about it. 4 pp. Free (March 29, 2006)
Summary of S. 1955: The Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization Act outlines the legislation that introduces Small Business Health Plans (SBHPs) and exempts private insurers from many state laws and regulations governing health insurance. 5 pp. Free (March 23, 2006)
Working with the Faith Community: Reflections from a National Faith Leader This tool for advocates identifies several tips and practical strategies for engaging and working with the faith community around health care issues. Drawing from her work with congregations that represent communities of color, Barbara Baylor, Minister for Health and Wellness at the national office for the United Church of Christ, reflects on how to engage the faith community as an effective way to improve health care. 4 pp. Free (March 2006)
Medicaid Benefit Package Changes: Coming to a State Near You? explains the changes that states can choose to make in their Medicaid benefit packages as a result of the so-called Deficit Reduction Act (DRA), as well as the harm that might come from implementing such changes. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (March 2006)
President Bush's Fiscal Year 2007 Budget: Analysis of Key Health Care Provisions Includes discussion and commentary on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Medicaid, and Medicare. 13 pp. Print copies $2 (February 22, 2006)
Millions Must Now Prove Citizenship to Keep Medicaid Coverage explains the implications of this provision of the so-called Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) and outlines steps advocates can take to mitigate the negative consequences of this new requirement. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (February 2006)
Overview: Medicaid and the Deficit Reduction Act 101 discusses highlights of the new law. It divides the law's provisions into two sections: changes that make it harder to get onto Medicaid, and changes that make it harder for people on Medicaid to get services. 6 pp. Print copies $2 (February 2006)
Expectations Shrinking for Medicare Part D Enrollment
An assessment of the first two months of enrollment in the new drug benefit. The report shows that: 1) enrollment so far is lagging well behind last year's projections; 2) most of those counted as covered already had drug coverage; and 3) low-income beneficiaries are being left behind. 6 pp. Print copies $2 (February 2006)
Making Public Programs Work for Communities of Color: An Action Kit for Community Leaders This action kit is designed to provide community leaders with the information, tools, and resources necessary to engage in health advocacy and improve the health and well-being of their communities. Print copies $15 (January 2006)
Proposed Health Reform in Massachusetts: Net Gain for the Business Community
An examination of the health reform bill passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives, which is designed to expand coverage to the state's uninsured. It finds that, overall, the bill would result in a net benefit for the state's business community. 15 pp. Print copies $5. (January 2006)
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