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Health Care Blog

  • Medicaid: More than Just Numbers

    Posted by Jon Carson on July 8, 2011 at 4:26 PM EDT

    It’s no secret that our country is in the middle of a tough dialogue about the budget and spending. President Obama knows that the American people and ordinary families should be at the heart of these discussions. 

    In recent days, White House officials have been meeting with organizations like The Arc, MomsRising, and Family Voices to discuss the important role Medicaid plays in the lives of millions of Americans. They heard from parents of children with developmental, intellectual and physical  disabilities who told us about Medicaid providing the services and supports so their children could thrive in the community when no one had given them a chance. They heard from mothers who would go without health care but for Medicaid and families where Medicaid has helped change and save lives.

    The families we met and the stories they told put a human face on the discussions going on in Washington. From Family Voices we met Laura, a passionate young girl and aspiring author from Indiana.  Through MomsRising we met Gail from Utah who would not be here today without the support Medicaid provided as she dealt with breast cancer . And through The Arc we met the Keaton family of West Virginia and their 18-month-old son Graysen, who has DiGeorge Syndrome.

    We know that Medicaid helps provide services so that people with disabilities can be sisters, and brothers, daughters and sons, friends, peers, and classmates -- not patients. And yesterday, Sherry Glied from HHS wrote about a landmark new study that outlines the tremendous benefits that come from having Medicaid coverage. That’s why President Obama has proposed a package of reforms that save money and strengthen this critical program without shifting the cost of care to our seniors or people with disabilities. 

    Medicaid can be more efficient and the President’s plan helps streamline the program to save money and provide better care. But the President’s plan stands in sharp contrast to the Republican plan that transforms Medicaid into a dramatically underfunded block grant. Under the Republican plan, states would get one-third less for Medicaid by 2021, potentially leaving 15 million people without coverage, including seniors in nursing homes, people with disabilities, children and pregnant women.

    The families my colleagues met with traveled many miles to share their stories with us and as the discussion about our fiscal future continues, we will be doing all we can to fight for them and the millions of Americans who depend on Medicaid each and every day.

    Jon Carson is Deputy Assistant to President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement
     

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  • Health Insurance Leads to Healthier Americans

    Posted by Sherry Glied on July 7, 2011 at 4:48 PM EDT

    There’s a new study out today that confirms just how important health insurance and the Medicaid program really are. The study is already making waves with Ezra Klein calling it, “the most important health-care policy experiment since the 1970s.” Here’s how it worked:

    In 2008, Oregon expanded Medicaid eligibility to a group of low-income, uninsured adults. But at that time, more people were eligible for Oregon’s Medicaid program than the state could afford, so they set up a lottery to determine who would receive coverage.

    The Oregon Health Insurance Experiment looked at what happened to the people who won the lottery and received coverage through Medicaid compared to those who did not. And the results are even more positive than we anticipated. The study found that:

    • Providing these Americans with health insurance led to a significant increase in the use of critical preventive services. For example, women with coverage were 60% more likely to get mammograms and 20% more likely to have their cholesterol monitored.
    • Those with insurance were 70% more likely to regularly visit their primary care doctor.
    • People who gained coverage saw sizable improvements in their health and well-being.

    Those with insurance saw greater financial security and savings for providers. According to the report, “Insurance decreased the probability of having an unpaid medical bill sent to a collection agency by 25% -- which also benefits health care providers since the vast majority of such debts are never paid.”
     

    In addition to the positive effects of insurance for those covered, the study also found good news for States that expand Medicaid coverage.  Researchers found that:

    • The costs of a Medicaid expansion, in terms of increased health expenditures, are considerably smaller than prior research has suggested.
    • Improving access to public insurance for uninsured people did not lead to subsequent reductions in private insurance coverage.   

    Today, our country is having an important debate about the future of Medicaid. President Obama has proposed a framework that will strengthen Medicaid, make it more efficient and continue to provide services and support to the millions of children, families, seniors and pregnant women who depend on Medicaid every day.

    In contrast, Republicans have offered a plan to turn Medicaid into a dangerously underfunded block grant. Under their plan, states would get one-third less for Medicaid by 2021. 15 million people could be left without coverage.

    We know – and today’s study confirms – that Medicaid is making a difference in the lives of millions of Americans and the President will continue to fight to strengthen Medicaid.

    Sherry Glied is HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation

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  • A Key Legal Victory for Health Care

    Posted by Stephanie Cutter on June 29, 2011 at 1:51 PM EDT

    Today, the Affordable Care Act, and the millions of Americans and small businesses benefitting from it scored another victory when the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law is constitutional. Today’s ruling in the case of Thomas More Law Center v. Obama is the first time an Appeals Court has ruled on the constitutionality of the law.

    We’re gratified by today’s ruling, which came from judges appointed by Democratic and Republican Presidents who agreed that the law’s individual responsibility provision (sometimes called the minimum coverage provision) is constitutional. In today’s ruling, the court held that:

    …the minimum coverage provision is a valid exercise of legislative power by Congress under the Commerce Clause...

    Judge Martin also addressed the claim that the individual responsibility provision somehow regulates “inactivity.” He wrote:

    Furthermore, far from regulating inactivity, the minimum coverage provision regulates individuals who are, in the aggregate, active in the health care market…The vast majority of individuals are active in the market for health care delivery because of two unique characteristics of this market: (1) virtually everyone requires health care services at some unpredictable point; and (2) individuals receive health care services regardless of ability to pay. Virtually everyone will need health care services at some point, including, in the aggregate, those without health insurance. Even dramatic attempts to protect one’s health and minimize the need for health care will not always be successful, and the health care market is characterized by unpredictable and unavoidable needs for care.

    Judge Sutton agreed that the individual responsibility provision is constitutional and wrote:

    In choosing how to regulate [people who choose to self-insure], Congress also did not exceed its power.

    There are a number of cases regarding the Affordable Care Act that will continue to be heard in courts nationwide, and at the end of the day, we are confident the constitutionality of these landmark reforms will be upheld.   For more information about the individual responsibility provision, check out this post I wrote in May that outlines the importance of this provision.

    Stephanie Cutter is Assistant to the President and Deputy Senior Advisor

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  • National HIV Testing Day 2011

    Posted by Thomas R. Frieden on June 27, 2011 at 12:29 PM EDT

    Note: Today President Obama issued a statement on National HIV Testing Day

    Thirty years ago, at the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, there was no test for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. For many, there was only the long and worrisome wait for the signs of infection. Once those signs appeared, no treatment for the virus was available. I personally cared for many, many patients in this era, and I am thankful that those days are over. Today, HIV testing is accurate, widely available, and often free—and treatment can help people living with HIV enjoy long, healthy lives, especially when they get diagnosed early.
     
    The good news is that more people are being tested for HIV than ever before. It is estimated that almost 83 million American adults between 18 and 64 have been tested for HIV, as of 2009. That’s an increase of more than 11 million from 2006 when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) recommended that HIV testing become a routine part of medical care for adults and adolescents.

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  • Taking the Pulse on Health IT Exports

    Posted by Aneesh Chopra on June 22, 2011 at 1:52 PM EDT

    Recently I had the pleasure of hosting a roundtable to discuss opportunities and challenges relating to the export of Health Information Technology (Health IT) products and services.  This emerging sector is one of several that are important for the success of the National Export Initiative, announced by President Obama in February 2010 with the goal of doubling exports in five years.

    Held in conjunction with the Manufacturing & Services unit of the International Trade Administration and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, our roundtable featured dynamic conversations among a broad array of industry leaders, including representatives from healthcare providers, software and hardware vendors, and consulting firms. 

    Together we addressed opportunities in this rapidly globalizing sector that embraces a wide array of participants and can benefit from innovation both at home and abroad.  The discussion was focused on three primary topics:  1) barriers to increased exports; 2) HIT services and international partnerships; and 3) standards and interoperability.  Input provided by the group was helpful in identifying current and potential future obstacles and ensuring that our domestic innovation is informed by the reality of global markets.

    Along with my co-hosts Assistant Secretary of Commerce Nicole Lamb-Hale and National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari, I would like to personally thank the talented health, technology, and professional services representatives who took time out from their schedules to ensure that our Health IT sector remains competitive both at home and abroad. 

    Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage in this important topic.

    Roundtable Attendees: 

    Andrew Slavitt, CEO, INGENIX (soon to be OptumInsight)
    Robin Raiford, Executive Director, Federal Affairs, Allscripts
    David Yakimischak, Chief Quality Officer, Surescripts
    John Feikema, President and CEO, Visionshare
    Linda Boles, Chief Strategist, U.S. Public Sector Healthcare Innovation, Strategic Relations Operation, Cisco
    Shawn Dolley, Vice President & General Manager, Worldwide Public Sector, Netezza/IBM Marc Perlman, Global Vice President, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Oracle
    Matt Krupnick, Director, Global Public Policy, Dell/CSC
    R. Shaun Gause, President, Global Group Inc.
    Alice Borrelli, Director, Global Health and Workforce Policy, Intel (also Continua Health Alliance)
    Brian DeMay, CIO, Enterprise Architecture, Walgreens
    Joe Ternullo, Director of International Corporate Relations, Partners Healthcare
    Jamie Ferguson, Vice President, Health IT Strategy and Policy, Kaiser Permanente
    Hank Fanberg, Director of Technology Advocacy, CHRISTUS Health
    Jay Sanders, President and CEO, The Global Telemedicine Group
    Jeremy Bonfini, Executive Vice President of Global Services, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
    Tom Leary, Senior Director, Federal Affairs, HIMSS
    Allison Viola, Director, Federal Relations, American Health Information Management Association
    Jonathan Linkous, Executive Director, American Telemedicine Association
    Jennifer Covich Bordenick, Chief Executive Officer, eHealth Initiative
    Chuck Parker, Executive Director, Continua Health Alliance
    Justin Barnes, Vice President of Marketing, Corporate & Government Affairs, Greenway Medical Technologies
    Laura Caliguiri, Director, Government and Industry Relations, Microsoft Health Solutions Group (also representing TechAmerica)
    West Shell, Chairman and CEO, Healthline

    Aneesh Chopra is U.S. Chief Technology Officer

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  • New Graphic Warning Labels Designed to Reduce the Deadly Effects of Smoking

    Posted by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on June 21, 2011 at 12:48 PM EDT

    Breaking news: smoking cigarettes will kill you.  Cigarette smoking kills an estimated 443,000 Americans each year, most of whom began smoking when they were under the age of 18.  Protecting our children and reducing tobacco-related death, disease and disability is one of the most important public health goals of our time and a top priority for the President. 

    On June 22, 2009, President Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, giving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to take steps to reduce the deadly effects of tobacco use and prevent companies from advertising their products to our children.

    For decades, little has been done to update warning labels to discourage people from smoking.  We’re changing that. Today, the FDA unveiled new warning labels that will appear on every pack of cigarettes and every advertisement, sending a strong message about the dangers of smoking. 

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