HealthcareVouchers.org News
7/3/2008
HealthCare Guaranteed The Book
Seattle, WA Healthcare, Guaranteed: A Simple, Secure Solution for America, by Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel with a Foreword by Professor Victor Fuchs, was released in early June of this year and has begun to generate interest among serious commentators on healthcare reform. The book cover itself contains favorable comments on the Guaranteed HealthCare Access Plan (GHAP) from the likes of: Larry Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury; Steve Miller, former CEO, Delphi Corporation; Andy Stern, President, SEIU; Ellen Stovall, President and CEO, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, and Lucien Wulsin, Executive Director, Insure the Uninsured Project.
The book and its ideas have begun to attract the attention of knowledgeable bloggers such Maggie Mahar of The Century Foundation (www.healthbeatblog.org). Among her posts are:
A Fresh Look at Healthcare Reform, Part 1 (http://www.healthbeatblog.org/2008/05/a-fresh-look-at.html) and A Fresh Look at Healthcare Reform, Part 2 (http://www.healthbeatblog.org/2008/05/a-fresh-look--1.html), is a two-part series that summarizes GHAP in some detail and provides a very favorable analysis of its major component parts in addressing what is broken in the current system.
Whats Happening in the Netherlands (http://www.healthbeatblog.org/2008/06/whats-happening.html) is an analysis of the Netherlands affordable and effective healthcare system and its many similarities with GHAP.
Reigning in the Cost of Healthcare (http://www.healthbeatblog.org/2008/06/should-progress.html) is a discussion of the absolute necessity of including cost controlling mechanisms in any reformed healthcare system with specific reference to GHAP proposals.
Ezra Klein of The American Prospect (www.prospect.org) devoted three posts for a very thorough summary and analysis of GHAP.
Health Reform: A Voucher System (http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=06&year=2008&base_name=health_reform_a_voucher_system) is a thorough summary of GHAP. Part 2: The Case For (http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=06&year=2008&base_name=a_voucher_system_part_2_the_ca) emphasizes the uniqueness of the plan as well as its attention to controlling costs as a fundamental component. Part 3, The Case Against (http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=06&year=2008&base_name=a_voucher_system_part_3_the_ca) confronts the political process and the vested interests in the status quo, including 85% of Americans who are insured, if nervous about its future.
Financial Times, How to Cure Americas Health System (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8187ad4a-253c-11dd-a14a-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1) is an analysis of the US healthcare system and the merits of GHAP as seen from the perspective of an outsider.
Newsweek, Health Care Made Simple (http://www.newsweek.com/id/139453) provides a positive if brief review of the merits of GHAP while acknowledging the political barriers to enactment.
2/7/2008
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel in Portland
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, one of the authors of the Universal HealthCare Voucher plan for comprehensive health system reform, spoke to a variety of Portland audiences on January 30, 2008.
Seattle, WA, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel spent a full day in Portland, OR, on January 30, 2008, speaking before a variety of civic and professional groups on the fundamental problems with the existing system, the shortcomings of the major reform proposals currently circulating, and on the attributes of the Universal HealthCare Voucher plan. The current healthcare system is not financially sustainable over time and the current proposals for reform do not change that reality, according to Dr. Emanuel.
The Universal HealthCare Voucher plan would have the Federal government provide every American with a HealthCare Voucher to be redeemed for a standard health plan from a participating insurance or healthcare organization. No one could be denied coverage for any reason including current health status, pre-existing conditions or employment status, and anyone would be free to purchase additional coverage at their own expense. The Federal government would define the standard health plan, promote quality care and cost containment, and assure that everyone was signed up with a participating health plan. The current delivery system would remain very much intact, but be managed with a greater emphasis on integrated health care, cost containment and quality.
Of the most prominent approaches to healthcare reform, "Band Aid" reform seems to be the most popular among the leading presidential candidates. "The main appeal of incremental reform is not the quality or adequacy of the reform but its political feasibility", according to Dr. Emanuel. Individual mandates rely on the current system and try to make as few changes as possible to get as close to universal coverage as possible, but lack cost control mechanisms for long term viability. Single payer plans also lack cost control discipline, as exemplified by the sky rocketing costs of Medicare, and do not encourage the integration of delivery systems.
Earlier this year, HealthCare Vouchers.org announced the launch of a nationwide campaign to promote the adoption of the HealthCare Voucher Plan in the wake of a report by the Census Bureau documenting a two million person increase in the number of the medically uninsured in one year. The rise in the ranks of the uninsured is a squeeze on the middle class attributed mostly to people losing employer-provided or privately purchased health insurance. HealthCare Vouchers are a sensible, equitable, and viable alternative to the band-aid solutions proposed by Congress and the leading Presidential candidates.
HealthCare Vouchers is the brainchild of two prominent healthcare professionals. Dr. Emanuel is the Chair of the Department of Bioethics at the Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health; he is also a breast oncologist. Victor Fuchs is the Henry J. Kaiser, Jr., Professor of Economics and of Health Research and Policy, emeritus, Stanford University.
### Contact us at: info@healthcarevouchers.org Phone: 206-856-6387 or 206-310-6707 Learn more about us: www.healthcarevouchers.org
1/24/2008
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel in Portland
Seattle, WA, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel will be in Portland, OR, on January 30 for appearances before academic, business, civic and health providers to discuss the need for comprehensive healthcare system reform and the role of HealthCare Vouchers in truly fixing what ails the system.
Dr. Emanuel can be heard at either of two public appearances. The first event will be hosted by the Oregon Health Forum and will begin at 11:30 at the Governor Hotel. For more information consult their Website, http://www.healthforum.org/events/Emanuelluncheon.html. The second event will be sponsored by the Portland City Club and will take place at the City Club Commons starting at 6:00. For more information consult their Website, http://www.pdxcityclub.org/. Both events are open to the public.
The Universal HealthCare Voucher plan would have the Federal government provide every American with a HealthCare Voucher to be redeemed for a standard health plan from a participating insurance or healthcare organization. No one could be denied coverage for any reason including current health status, pre-existing conditions or employment status, and anyone would be free to purchase additional coverage at their own expense. The Federal government would define the standard health plan, promote quality care and cost containment, and assure that everyone was signed up with a participating health plan. The current delivery system would remain very much intact, retaining what is good about it and weeding out those elements that dont contribute directly to patient well-being.
In July, 2007, HealthCare Vouchers.org announced the launch of a nationwide campaign to promote the adoption of the HealthCare Voucher Plan in the wake of a report by the Census Bureau documenting a two million person increase in the number of the medically uninsured in one year. The rise in the ranks of the uninsured is a squeeze on the middle class attributed mostly to people losing employer-provided or privately purchased health insurance. HealthCare Vouchers are a sensible, equitable, and viable alternative to the band-aid solutions proposed by Congress and the leading Presidential candidates.
HealthCare Vouchers is the brainchild of two prominent healthcare professionals. Dr. Emanuel is the Chair of the Department of Bioethics at the Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health; he is also a breast oncologist. Victor Fuchs is the Henry J. Kaiser, Jr., Professor of Economics and of Health Research and Policy, emeritus, Stanford University.
10/16/2007
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel in Seattle
Seattle, WA, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel spent a full day in Seattle, WA, on October 11 speaking before a variety of civic and professional groups on the fundamental problems with the existing system, the shortcomings of the major reform proposals currently circulating, and on the attributes of the Universal Healthcare Voucher plan. "Meaningful reform will only come about if both the financial and the delivery systems are brought into the realities of the 21st Century", according to Dr. Emanuel.
The Universal HealthCare Voucher plan would have the Federal government provide every American with a HealthCare Voucher to be redeemed for a standard health plan from a participating insurance or healthcare organization. No one could be denied coverage for any reason including current health status, pre-existing conditions or employment status, and anyone would be free to purchase additional coverage at their own expense. The Federal government would define the standard health plan, promote quality care and cost containment, and assure that everyone was signed up with a participating health plan. The current delivery system would remain very much intact, but be managed with a greater emphasis on integrated health care, cost containment and quality.
Of the most prominent approaches to healthcare reform, "Band Aid" reform seems to be the most popular among the leading presidential candidates. "The main appeal of incremental reform is not the quality or adequacy of the reform but its political feasibility", according to Dr. Emanuel. Individual mandates rely on the current system and try to make as few changes as possible to get as close to universal coverage as possible, but lack cost control mechanisms for long term viability. Single payer plans also lack cost control discipline, as exemplified by the sky rocketing costs of Medicare, and do not encourage the integration of delivery systems.
Earlier this year, HealthCare Vouchers.org announced the launch of a nationwide campaign to promote the adoption of the HealthCare Voucher Plan in the wake of a report by the Census Bureau documenting a two million person increase in the number of the medically uninsured in one year. The rise in the ranks of the uninsured is a squeeze on the middle class attributed mostly to people losing employer-provided or privately purchased health insurance. HealthCare Vouchers are a sensible, equitable, and viable alternative to the band-aid solutions proposed by Congress and the leading Presidential candidates.
HealthCare Vouchers is the brainchild of two prominent healthcare professionals. Dr. Emanuel is the Chair of the Department of Bioethics at the Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health; he is also a breast oncologist. Victor Fuchs is the Henry J. Kaiser, Jr., Professor of Economics and of Health Research and Policy, emeritus, Stanford University.
10/4/2007
Seattle Presentations by Dr. Emanuel
HealthCare Vouchers A Comprehensive Approach Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, Chairman, Dept of Medical Bioethics, National Institutes of Health Thursday, October 11, 2007
Health care is again high on the political agenda. Proposals for system reform are coming from many corners, many of them focused on incremental change. Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, Chairman, Department of Medical Bioethics, National Institutes of Health, and Victor Fuchs, Professor of Economics (emeritus), Stanford University, have offered a more comprehensive approach. Termed HealthCare Vouchers, Dr. Emanuel originally presented his idea in an article in the New England Journal of Medicine published on March 24, 2005. He provided further details about HealthCare Vouchers in a paper presented to The Brookings Institute on July 17, 2007 (www.healthcarevouchers.org).
There will be two opportunities for the general public to hear Dr. Emanuel speak on the subject. The first will be an event coordinated by the Resource Center for Health Policy, University of Washington: Location: University Inn, Orcas Room 4140 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 98105 800-733-3855
Time: 9:00 10:30 a.m. Parking: Secure parking in lot next to main entrance. Free, but must register license plate number with front desk.
Cost: There is no cost; no registration is needed. Light refreshments provided.
The second will be an event presented by The City Club of Seattle:
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel 1113 Sixth Avenue Seattle, WA
Time: 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m., Luncheon: 12:00 to 1:30 Parking: In hotel
Cost: $35/City Club Members, $45/General Public
For more information about HealthCare Vouchers, visit our Website at www.healthcarevouchers.org
Sponsored by HealthCareVouchers.org and Group Health Cooperative Coordinated by the Resource Center for Health Policy, University of Washington
7/23/2007
www.HealthcareVouchers.org launched
This Web site is dedicated to promoting the concept of Healthcare Vouchers which we believe to be the most comprehensive, effective and cost efficient of all the health reform proposals we have examined to date.
"We believe that Healthcare Vouchers fills that void and hope to build wider public awareness of the plan's attributes and mobilize our political leaders to embrace Vouchers as the solution to America's healthcare crisis. "
www.HealthCareVouchers.org includes information on the health care crisis, a solid solution to the issue, opportunities to get involved and the latest news about health care reform.
