Health Policy Matters Newsletter

Making Progress

I spent the early part of this week in Las Vegas at the Consumer Health World conference at the Venetian Resort and continue to be awed by the innovative ideas and investment in solutions, technologies, and advances in health care and coverage.

What's New

Hidden Health Costs

Health InsuranceThe Times' lead article, "Even the Insured Feel the Strain of Health Costs" (May 4), perpetuates the myth that employers are largely paying for their workers' health insurance. This benefit is actually part of a worker's overall compensation package, but if the employer writes the check, it doesn't show up as taxable income to the employee (courtesy of Section 106 of the Internal Revenue Code).

Candidates and Health Care Reform

3 comments

Health Care BasicsSens. Barack Obama and John McCain are gearing up for a general election battle -- barring a surprise surge by Sen. Hillary Clinton -- in which they will offer very different visions for health care reform.

 

Medicare Forum

Medicare

HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt gave a visionary but chilling speech about the looming threat that Medicare presents to taxpayers, to our economy, and to other government responsibilities during a major forum we co-sponsored in Washington on April 29 with the American Enterprise Institute and The Heritage Foundation.

  

Patent Reform Act Would Hurt Small Business Owners

Prescription DrugsSmall business entrepreneurs beware. The U.S. Senate is preparing to debate patent reform legislation that’s designed to aid tech titans but which could trample independent inventors in the process.

 

Congressional Testimony on Medicaid Integrity

Medicaid

Grace-Marie Turner testfied at a hearing on "H.R. 5613, Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008" before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health.

 


The Galen Institute, Inc., is a not-for-profit, free-market research organization devoted exclusively to health policy, promoting a more informed public debate over individual freedom, consumer choice, competition and diversity in the health sector.

SUBSCRIBE

Receive our weekly newsletter by email.


Media Kit

Bios, photos, logos, and more information about the Galen Institute.