View from Washington: The “Right” Debate
The return of health reform to the legislative agenda. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) projects that healthcare spending will double within the…
Articles by Robert Betz Ph.D.
View from Washington: First Steps
What the Democrats’ health policy agenda will look like. In the late 1990s, and on into the early part of this decade, allegations that marketing…
View from Washington: First Steps
What the Democrats’ health policy agenda will look like. Democrats are mobilizing to take advantage of their wins in the U.S. House and Senate, on…
View from Washington: States’ Rights
States are leaders in healthcare reform. In August, the U.S. Census Bureau announced another 1.3 million people were added to the list of Americans living…
View from Washington: Mid-Term Checkups
Healthcare issues dominate policy discussions leading up to mid-term elections. Historically, healthcare reform is a perennial election-year domestic-policy issue. With the upcoming mid-term elections, the…
View from Washington: Out in the Open
The political window is ready for price transparency initiatives. Healthcare costs represent 16 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), and by 2015, it is…
View from Washington – Rebate Debate: Medicaid drug pricing calculations up for discussion
Tucked inside the President’s FY 2007 Budget package of cutting Medicaid by $13.7 billion is an item to amend the Medicaid drug rebate program. This…
View from Washington – In Session: What’s on the horizon for the Congressional Ship-of-State.
Every year begins with instilled optimism. President Bush and the Republican party majorities envisioned great policy accomplishments for 2005. But this vision faded during 2005…
Imminent Demand
Imminent Demand: Legislative proposals regulating the healthcare supply chain are on the way. Nearly 20 years ago, legislation providing healthcare group purchasing organizations (GPOs) a…
View from Washington – Medicaid: The Healthcare Program Eating the States
Healthcare providers have not been the only sector cringing at the rising cost of medical care. State capitols are being squeezed by their ballooning Medicaid…