IPP Report on Fixing Healthcare in Iowa

Posted on December 9, 2006 by bfiacarolinevernon

IPP Report on Fixing Healthcare in Iowa


Iowa Policy Project senior research consultant Colin
Gordon has issued a  new report for the IPP, “Prescriptions and Placebos: Fixing
Health Care in Iowa.”

To view the report,
see:
<http://www.iowafiscal.org/2006docs/061127-health-full-format.pdf>

To
view the executive summary,
see:
<http://www.iowafiscal.org/2006docs/061127-ifp-HC-XS.pdf>

To view the news release,
see:
<http://www.iowafiscal.org/2006docs/061127-hc-release.pdf>

Below are links to a couple of the many media reports published or aired
about Colin’s report:
WHO Radio: Health Care Rx
<http://www.whoradio.com/pages/news/local/index.html?feed=121648&article=1533529>
Quad-City
Times: Expanded access to health care urged <http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2006/11/28/news/state/doc456bc72f883e8374742544.txt>

In the Cedar Rapids Gazette, James Lynch reported that Gordon
“recommended … that Iowa lawmakers scrap the ‘piecemeal’ approach they’ve used
in recent years if their goal is health care coverage that is affordable,
accessible and maintains a high level of quality.” From his
story:<!–
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   ‘‘Our health n care financing system does not work, and it’s understandable that state n legislators see a need to step in,’’ said Gordon, a senior research consultant n for the Iowa Policy Project and co-author of the report — Prescriptions and n Placebos: Fixing Health Care in Iowa — for the non-partisan Iowa Fiscal n Partnership. ‘‘They must be careful, however, to take a long-term view and not n miss the underlying problem of spiraling health care n costs.’’

    Previous efforts have encouraged n employer-based coverage through tax credits, small-employer purchasing pools, n mandates for large employers and other ideas, said Gordon, a historian who n wrote ‘‘Dead on Arrival: The Politics of Health Care in Twentieth-Century n America.’’

    On their own, these proposals n represent a fragmented approach to the problem that would do little to expand n coverage or increase affordability, and could actually make things worse, he n said.

    ‘‘I really think that trying to patch n up employer-based insurance is like moving furniture into a burning house. n It guarantees double-digit inflation and rising uninsurance into the future,’’ n Gordon said.


We nencourage your review of this new report as the Iowa General Assembly prepares nto return to the Statehouse in January.

Best regards,
Mike

— n
Mike Owen
Assistant Director
The Iowa Policy Project
(319) n338-0773 Iowa City
(319) 643-3628 West nBranch
ipp@Lcom.net

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   ‘‘Our health
care financing system does not work, and it’s understandable that state
legislators see a need to step in,’’ said Gordon, a senior research consultant
for the Iowa Policy Project and co-author of the report — Prescriptions and
Placebos: Fixing Health Care in Iowa — for the non-partisan Iowa Fiscal
Partnership. ‘‘They must be careful, however, to take a long-term view and not
miss the underlying problem of spiraling health care
costs.’’

    Previous efforts have encouraged
employer-based coverage through tax credits, small-employer purchasing pools,
mandates for large employers and other ideas, said Gordon, a historian who
wrote ‘‘Dead on Arrival: The Politics of Health Care in Twentieth-Century
America.’’

    On their own, these proposals
represent a fragmented approach to the problem that would do little to expand
coverage or increase affordability, and could actually make things worse, he
said.

    ‘‘I really think that trying to patch
up employer-based insurance is like moving furniture into a burning house.
It guarantees double-digit inflation and rising uninsurance into the future,’’
Gordon said.


We
encourage your review of this new report as the Iowa General Assembly prepares
to return to the Statehouse in January.

Best regards,
 
Mike Owen
Assistant Director
The Iowa Policy Project
(319)
338-0773 Iowa City
(319) 643-3628 West
Branch
ipp@Lcom.net