Unbiased Analysis of Today's Healthcare Issues
The economic stimulus plan is looking to spend money on “shovel ready” infrastructure projects. Even though stimulus bill funds have not yet been spent, fiscal policy has already generated increased economic activity in one sector: lobbying. NPR’s Marketplace reports that Washington lobbyists earned a record-breaking $3.2 billion last year. Sheila Krumholz, Executive Director for the Center for…
While President Obama’s speech to Congress had many components, I’m going to focus on those related to health care. I will also comment on the Republican response. OBAMA ADDRESS I applaud the President for specifically addressing the need for health care reform. “…we can no longer afford to put health care reform on hold. We…
Two weeks ago I did a piece looking at the cost of living in different states. One major dimension of the cost of living is state sales and incomes taxes. With the recent economic downturn, it looks like I’ll have to update my numbers. California currently has the highest sales tax of any state (7.25%). …
Many politicians are proposing that a “Buy American” clause be included in the stimulus package. This is bad idea. Protecting American jobs from foreign may seem like a good idea to save jobs. However, if “Buy American” bill is passed other countries will institute their own protectionist provisions. In fact, Brazil may challenge the “Buy…
One health risk factor often overlooked in this blog is going to war. Veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan frequently return home with traumatic brain injury from roadside bombs, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other injuries. Marketplace chronicles the problems veterans experience trying to collect military benefits after returning to civilian life. The…
Today, G.M. and Chrysler must submit a government-mandated recovery plan to Congress. The N.Y. Times reports that G.M is trying get the United Auto Workers to agree to cutback in its employee and retiree health care benefits. “[G.M.] has to address how a company that lost more than $20 billion last year can afford $5…
It’s a truism that people are complicated, multifaceted, contradictory, surprising, but it takes the advent of war or other momentous events to be able to see it. It is the most fascinating and the most dreadful of spectacles…the most dreadful because it’s so real; you can never pride yourself on truly knowing the sea unless…
a checklist? According to The Independent (‘Right patient? right limb?‘), “Surgeons in England and Wales will be ordered today to carry out a safety checklist before every operation they perform, after a study showed it cut surgical deaths and complications by a third….Surgeons and nurses run through a series of basic safety checks before each…
The Cato Institute’s Michael Cannon moderates an interesting policy forum on “Does America’s Health Care Sector Produce More Health?” A podcast of the forum is available here. Is a single payer system better than an unregulated health care system? If they U.S. scores worse on health care metrics, does that mean that unregulated health care…
The Mayo Clinic is renowned as one of the best health care facilities in the world. Yet it also spends millions of dollars to make its buildings look like this. Why do hospitals spend so much money on making their buildings look beautiful instead of directing those funds towards clinical care? An NBER working paper…