Commentaries -- Devon Herrick
Devon Herrick is a Senior Fellow for the National Center for Policy Analysis. While Herrick works on a number of issues, he concentrates on health care issues, such as Internet-based medicine, health insurance and the uninsured, as well as pharmaceutical drug issues.
Oct 01, 2009 |
Census Bureau Uninsured Numbers Raise Questions- Health Care NewsThe U.S. Census Bureau released new statistics on the number of uninsured Americans in its annual report on September 10, sparking discussion of what the statistics mean and some surprising information about the incomes of the uninsured. |
May 01, 2009 |
Will Health Care Rationing Follow the Stimulus Bill- Health Care NewsThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, known informally as the "stimulus" bill, appropriated $1.1 billion to create a Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Research. The provision is one of the most controversial in the 1,000-page measure. |
Feb 01, 2009 |
Health Care Choice Can Cut Costs, Improve Care- Health Care NewsAs a new Congress begins considering health insurance issues, some members are already discussing proposals for a single-payer, universal health insurance plan. |
Jan 01, 2009 |
Web Replaces Doctors as Patients' Top Health Information Source- Health Care NewsA study by New York-based Manhattan Research has found people more frequently turn to the Internet for health information than seek information from their doctor. An estimated 145 million U.S. adults now turn to the Internet for information about diseases and other medical conditions. |
Dec 01, 2008 |
Consumers Better With CompetitionAs a new Congress begins to look at health care insurance options, some of the more liberal members are already discussing proposals for a singleâpayer, universal health care plan. |
Nov 17, 2008 |
Health Reform Needs a Competitive National MarketplaceThe Health Reform proposal championed by Sen. Max Baucus would require individuals to have health coverage, and force employers to contribute to its cost (mostly by reducing workers' take-home pay). In addition, millions more children and adults would be eligible for public subsidies, Medicare, Medicaid or SCHIP. |
Nov 01, 2008 |
Competition, Deregulation Can Make Health Insurance AffordablePublic officials and health care experts have recently suggested a number of reforms to reduce the cost of individual health insurance. Most of the proposals fail to address the contribution of mandated benefits to the high cost of insurance in many states. |
Jun 01, 2008 |
Experts Debate Causes, Cures for UninsuredApril 27-May 3 was Cover the Uninsured Week, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-sponsored initiative to raise awareness about the millions of Americans who lack health coverage. The grassroots campaign included forums across the country at hospitals and community centers, seminars for small businesses, and information about enrolling in free or low-cost health plans. |
Apr 01, 2008 |
Health Care Reform Proposals Draw Interest in CampaignsAt the 2008 Washington Economic Policy Conference, the Health Economics Roundtable sponsoredasession on prominent health care reform proposals, including those of the presidential candidates and reform efforts taking place in many states. Democrats have embraced a system of individual and employer-mandated health coverage, coupled with insurance regulations requiring insurers to cover all who apply (guaranteed issue) and to charge similar premiums regardless of health status (community rating). Republicans call for various changes in tax law to cover the uninsured, including a standard deduction (or tax credit) offset by proposed new laws that would make employer health benefits taxable. Whichever idea prevails, employers and consumers will likely be in for a big change. |
Apr 01, 2008 |
The 180-degree approach to medical benefits reformPresident Bush has proposed a plan for insurance reform that would provide a standard income-tax deduction to cover medical expenses. The amount of the deduction would be the same, regardless of the amount of out-of-pocket medical expenditure, and would require purchase of a government-qualified plan with a Health Savings Account. Under this proposal, harmful government interference in the medical marketplace would continue. An alternate proposal, with the same cap on the tax benefit, would abolish tax favoritism for third-party expenditures and restore a true competitive marketplace. |
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