Unbiased Analysis of Today's Healthcare Issues
Last week, I officially graduated from the University of California-San Diego with a Ph.D. in Economics. After 5 years of advanced education, how would I reform the current health care system? What principles are essential to a well-functioning health care system? I answer these question below in the “Healthcare Economist Manifesto.” Healthcare Economist Manifesto…
Vaccination is one of the most cost effective medical treatments we have. It is important that providers vaccines in a timely manner. In attempt to streamline vaccine distribution systems, the CDC created Vaccine Management Business Improvement Project (VMBIP). Instead of having providers place orders with the grantee (i.e.: state health department), and then having the…
According to Reuters (“All U.S. kids…“), the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is recommending that all kids should receive an influenza vaccination. Previously, the CDC recommended that all children 0-6 receive a flu shot. Now, all children 18 and under should get the shot. In addition to the direct health benefits the children…
Tonight I will be leaving for New York in order to present a paper at the Eastern Economic Association Annual Conference. The paper is titled “Adam Smith meets Paulus Salk: Estimating the social cost of influenza vaccination regulation.” This research has been performed in conjunction with John Fontanesi (UCSD), Mark Messonnier (CDC), and Bo-Hyun Cho…
In an attempt to reduce costs, Medicare enacted a Prospective Payment System (PPS) in 1983. Medicare aimed to pay hospitals a fixed rate based on the Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) plus/minus an adjustment for location and local wage. Although this system gives hospitals the incentive to misclassify patients into high profit DRG, I will assume…
While many poor people do not have insurance, a great majority have access to some type of care. For instance, all people have access to emergency room services. I currently volunteer at one of the many free clinics located in San Diego county. Thus, lack of insurance is not equivalent to absence of medical care.…
The design of legislation which regulates Medicaid eligibility creates a poverty trap. In California, generally those who have income below 250% of the federal poverty level and who have limited assets are eligible for Medicaid. (In reality California’s Medicaid eligibility is more complicated than this. For full details of eligibility requirements see âMedi-Cal Facts and…