Publications: 2008
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The World Can't Wait: More Funding Needed for Research on Neglected Infectious Diseases evaluates the U.S. government's commitment to research on eight neglected infectious diseases that affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, focusing on funding for the four major agencies that are engaged in this research (CDC, DOD, NIH, and USAID). The report includes several tables that break down this funding by disease, by agency, and by research category. 61 pp. Print copies $15.00 (December 2008)
A Painful Recession: States Cut Health Care Safety Net Programs documents one impact of the current recession by examining state cuts in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The report also shows, on a state-by-state basis, how temporarily increasing federal funding for Medicaid can stimulate state economies, increasing business activity, jobs, and wages. 25pp. Print copies $10 (December 2008)
Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008: Addressing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities discusses how the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) addresses health disparities within the Medicare population. MIPPA provisions to address these issues include: improved data collection for measuring and evaluating health disparities, outreach to the previously uninsured, and compliance with cultural competency standards. 6 pp. Print copies $2 (November 2008)
Left Behind: America's Uninsured Children: The Bush Administration's opposition to expanding CHIP, as well as the economic crisis, have put new pressure on states to deal with the growing need for health coverage. These state-specific reports examine new data and discuss the future of children's health coverage. 10 pp. Print copies $2 (October-November 2008)
Limited-Benefit Plans: Expanding Coverage or Holding Your State Back? examines the negative effects of limited-benefit insurance plans (also known as "barebones" or "mandate-lite" plans) based on how these plans have fared in some states. This brief also discusses how advocates can respond to limited-benefit proposals in their states. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (October 2008)
Congress Delivers Help to People with Medicare: An Overview of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act discusses the positive changes the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) makes to Medicare. These changes include the improvement of Medicare health care benefits, the creation of policies that reduce racial and ethnic disparities among beneficiaries, and the reining in of inefficient private Medicare Advantage Plans. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (October 2008)
Why Does Global Health Matter to Your State? This series of state-specific fact sheets from our Global Health Initiative discuss how investing in global health benefits state economies, businesses, and health. 4 pp. Free (September 2008)
Failing Grades: Illinois Fails to Protect Consumers in the Individual Health Insurance Market focuses the broader discussion of inadequate consumer protections for the individual market on Illinois, examining how the state falls short in protecting consumers, leaving them vulnerable to insurance company abuse. The report also includes recommendations for reforms needed in the private market. 28 pp. Print copies $5 (September 2008)
Premiums versus Paychecks: A Growing Burden for Workers: Throughout the first eight years of the new millennium, health care costs have skyrocketed, while working families’ wages have stood still, putting a significant strain on family budgets. This series of state-by-state reports, which are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services, examine what these trends mean for working families. 12 pp. Print copies $2 (September-October 2008)
An Unequal Burden: The True Cost of High-Deductible Health Plans for Communities of Color discusses the full costs associated with high-deductible health plans and why these expenses are disproportionately unaffordable for racial and ethnic minorities. It also examines several myths about health savings accounts (HSAs), which are often coupled with such health plans. 12 pp. Print copies $2 (September 2008)
Health Coverage in Communities of Color: Talking about the New Census Numbers takes a closer look at the 2007 uninsured data. The number of uninsured was considerably higher in 2007 than it was in 2000, and communities of color continue to bear the brunt of this crisis. This fact sheet looks at who is uninsured, where people get their health insurance, and why public programs are vital to communities of color. 4 pp. Free (September 2008)
Still Too Many Uninsured Children examines the new Census Bureau data about children's health coverage in 2007. It describes the importance of Medicaid and CHIP for children's health coverage, how the President's harmful policies are hurting children, and what Congress and the next President should do to help. 2 pp. Free (August 2008)
Empty Promise: Searching for Health Insurance in an Unfair Market discusses how the individual health insurance market differs from the employer market and examines what happens to consumers who seek coverage in the individual market. Problems in the individual market include policies that don't provide quality coverage; policies that are very expensive or that cost more than advertised; and the fact that many applicants cannot obtain a policy at any price. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (August 2008)
Mountain Health Choices: An Unhealthy Choice for West Virginians continues our analysis of the state's radical Medicaid reform program. Problems with the program include a confusing enrollment process; lack of clear information; and lack of access to key health care services, particularly mental health care. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (August 2008)
Detour on the Road to Kids Coverage: Administration Creates Roadblocks, So States Seek Alternative Routes examines the current state of children's coverage and finds that, while the Administration's new directive has created roadblocks that stymied state efforts to expand eligibility, it has not stopped states from making progress. 10 pp. Print copies $2 (July 2008)
Fighting Revocations and Limitations of Health Insurance Policies addresses the insurance company practice of revoking an individual's health insurance or suddenly eliminating coverage for health services long after the person has enrolled (known as "post-claims underwriting"). It also discusses what consumers and advocates can do about the practice. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (July 2008)
Five Good Reasons to Increase Health Coverage for Parents discusses the reasons why states should strengthen the health and economic security of families by expanding health coverage for parents. 4 pp. Free (July 2008)
Precarious Position: States Must Balance Declining Revenues with a Growing Need for Medicaid Several states are proposing to balance their budgets by cutting Medicaid—raising cost-sharing, shrinking eligibility, or reducing benefits. This issue brief discusses Medicaid cuts in a number of states and recommends congressional action to bring fiscal relief to the states. 12 pp. Print copies $2 (July 2008)
Screening for Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Eligibility is intended as a reference to help determine whether someone may qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP coverage. Each question includes federal and state-specific information. (Families USA, originally published in 2004, updated June 2008)
America's Health Care Crisis: Cities on the Front Lines Families USA surveyed a sample of mayors from across the country on the topics of health care and the uninsured. We found that cities are profoundly affected by the rising number of uninsured and the rising cost of providing coverage for their own employees. This report presents the results of our survey and examines cities’ role in the health care safety net, the impact of the growing number of uninsured on city services, and the ways that state and federal leaders might come together with city leaders to improve health coverage and access for all Americans. 20 pp. Print copies $15.00 (June 2008)
In Your Own Backyard: How NIH Funding Helps Your State's Economy analyzes how NIH funding provides direct economic benefits to the states, from increased employment to growth opportunities in business and education. The report includes state-by-state data that show the real, direct economic benefits provided by NIH research funding awards. 23 pp. Print copies $15.00 (June 2008)
Failing Grades: State Consumer Protections in the Individual Health Insurance Market Laws protecting consumers purchasing health coverage in the individual market vary across the country. In many states, insurance companies can deny coverage, raise premiums significantly, refuse to cover treatment for certain conditions, and even revoke the coverage of policyholders who have been paying premiums for years. 36 pp. Print copies $10.00 (June 2008) More in-depth resources that supplement the report:
- The Facts about Prior Approval of Health Insurance Premium Rates discusses several insurance industry myths about the consequences of prior approval. The prior approval process is used by most states to make sure that insurance companies' proposed premium increases are not excessive. 4 pp. Print copies Free (June 2008)
- Medical Loss Ratios: Evidence from the States presents the results of a 50-state survey we conducted in March and April 2008 that determined which states have laws or regulations that establish a minimum "medical loss ratio" (a percentage of premium dollars that must be spent on medical care). 8 pp. Print copies $2 (June 2008)
- Post-Claims Underwriting Survey presents the findings of a survey we conducted in April and May 2008 of all state insurance departments regarding laws in their states that prohibit insurers from limiting or rescinding health insurance policies after they have been issued. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (June 2008)
Identifying and Evaluating Equity Provisions in State Health Care Reform explores how states can increase health equity by expanding health coverage and addressing issues of access to care, quality of care, the social determinants of health, and infrastructure reforms. The report also evaluates existing health equity laws, regulations, and reform proposals in five states. From The Opportunity Agenda, Families USA, and The Commonwealth Fund. 56 pp. (April 2008)
Reinsurance: A Primer aims to help policymakers and advocates better understand what reinsurance is and how it can make coverage easier to obtain and more affordable. It also identifies some of the benefits of reinsurance to aid lawmakers as they design reinsurance programs to meet the needs of their states. 20 pp. Print copies $5 (April 2008)
Bad Medicine: The President's Medicaid Regulations Will Weaken State Economies The Bush Administration issued seven new Medicaid regulations in 2007 that together will strip an estimated $50 billion in federal funds from states over the next five years. These state-specific reports quantify the impact that these changes will have on state economies. 4 pp. Free (April 2008)
CDC: Defending Global Health, Defending Our Health discusses the CDC's history and mission. It also examines how the agency's global health efforts benefit the U.S. as well as other nations, arguing that these efforts need to be fully funded to be successful. 4 pp. Free (Updated April 2008)
Dying for Coverage For the more than 47 million Americans who are uninsured, lack of health insurance can have dire consequences—medical debt, missed care, and even premature death. We've created the first-ever state reports on the number of deaths due to lack of health insurance. 4 pp. Free (March 2008)
9 Million Children and Counting: The Administration's Attack on Health Coverage for America's Children examines how the President's two vetoes of CHIP reauthorization legislation, combined with the August 2007 CMS directive, will jeopardize health care for thousands of children. And the President's proposed fiscal year 2009 budget would hurt children's coverage even more. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (February 2008)
Global Health Medical Technologies: Status Critical This chart summarizes the status of medical technologies for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases. 4 pp. Free (February 2008)
Fighting the World's Most Devastating Diseases: A Plan for Closing the Research Gap Tuberculosis (TB), malaria, HIV/AIDS, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) cause millions of deaths worldwide every year, reduce economic growth, and fracture political stability. New medical interventions are desperately needed for these diseases. This piece discusses how we can make progress in fighting these deadly diseases by dramatically expanding our research investment. 12 pp. Print copies $2 (February 2008)
President’s Budget Delays Medical Progress The President’s 2009 budget proposal would cut funding for NIH and the CDC, two of our nation’s premier biomedical institutes. These funding cuts would undermine our efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and other diseases that are devastating our world—and put America’s health at risk. 4 pp. Free (January 2008)
Universal and Equal: Ensuring Equity in State Health Care Reform States across the country are looking for ways to expand affordable, quality health coverage to more people, but few states have focused specifically on the problem of inequality in health care. This piece presents strategies advocates can use to integrate health equity into larger health reform efforts, as well as a checklist they can use to evaluate their states' proposed expansions. From The Opportunity Agenda and Families USA. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (January 2008)
Reward/Penalty Plans for Wellness: Coming Soon to an Office Near You? Encouraging healthy lifestyles is important, but might some wellness plans place your access to health care at risk? This piece explores some of the hidden effects that reward/penalty plans for wellness may have on consumers, as well as the problems that these plans might present in both employer-sponsored coverage and Medicaid. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (January 2008)
Insure Missouri: Too Little, Too Late examines Governor Blunt's proposal to provide health coverage to uninsured Missourians. It finds that the plan's eligibility criteria leave out many low-income uninsured adults, the coverage offered is missing key benefits, the cost-sharing is too high, and the plan is built on shaky financing mechanisms. 10 pp. Print copies $2 (January 2008)
Confronting Disparities while Reforming Health Care: A Look at Massachusetts examines how state advocates were able to build on expansion efforts and address the host of issues that affect disparities in health and health care. Includes an extensive discussion of lessons that can be learned from the Massachusetts experience. 10 pp. Print copies $2(Updated January 2008)
