This Week in Health Care Reform: February 15, 2012

Prospects for a temporary ‘doc fix’ are resuscitated, while a Senate Committee approves legislation requiring the Supreme Court to televise its open sessions, and the GOP race to the nomination continues to take shape…kind of.

We encourage you to stay involved with the implementation efforts surrounding health care reform by voicing your perspective to Members of Congress and by visiting the Health Action Network.

Polling

Fewer with Employer-Based Health Insurance: According to the latest Gallup poll, fewer Americans received their health insurance from their employers in 2011 than in 2010.  The decrease (from 45.8 percent to 44.6 percent) continues the downward trend in employer-based insurance that began in 2008.

Give a Lot, Get a Little: The majority of Americans believe that over their lifetime, they will pay more in federal taxes than they will receive in benefits, according to a recent poll in the New York Times.  Also of note, Americans do not believe that their taxes are keeping pace with the growing cost of government.

Health Care Reform

Not-so-Deep Impact: A report by RAND Corporation published in Health Affairs last week details the minimal impact that existing rules allowing small businesses to opt-out of impending health care reform measures would have on overall costs.  Specifically, the provision allowing small employers to grandfather-in their existing plans would not be utilized by enough businesses to significantly affect costs.  However, researchers warn, that could change should more businesses be allowed to opt-out.

Can You Read Me Now?: Last Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released final rules governing how and what kind of information insurers and health plans must make available to their members.  These health insurance summaries aim to provide consumers with the necessary information to make informed coverage decisions.

Not Enough to Go Around: As implementation efforts surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continue, one critical aspect affecting everyone has come into sharp relief – the growing shortage of doctors.  By 2015 – the year after most provisions of the ACA become effective – the anticipated shortfall of primary care physicians is anticipated to be nearly 30,000.