Len Nichols in AAFB News Now | 'Primary Care Assumes Prominent Role in Candidates' Health Care Reform Plans'

Communications — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:20:00 -0400

New America in the News:
Len Nichols, Ph.D., a health care economist and director of the health policy program for the New America Foundation, agrees with King's assessment, saying the "medical home is consistent with the spirit of where both candidates are headed."

"Regardless of who wins, I think we will be talking about the medical home going forward," he says. LINK

Len Nichols in AAFP News | Senate Bill May Provide Starting Point to Fix Health Care System

Communications — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:41:00 -0400

New America in the News:

AAFP News | Senate Bill May Provide Starting Point to Fix Health Care System

The Senate Finance Committee is considering legislation that could serve as the basis for major health care reform efforts during the next presidential administration, according to analysts interviewed by AAFP News Now.

In January 2007, Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced the Healthy Americans Act, S. 334, (at the THOMAS Web site, type "S. 334" in the search box after selecting "Bill Number") a bipartisan bill that reflects the values of both the Democratic and Republican parties, making it a viable vehicle for health care reform. That's according to Len Nichols, Ph.D, director of the Health Policy Program for the New America Foundation, a think tank created to promote bipartisan solutions to problems.

"I will be the first to say this bill is not perfect," said Nichols. "It will not be the (health care reform) bill that actually passes in 2009 or 2010. But it is a perfect place to have a conversation."

The bill addresses key Democratic concerns by requiring adults to carry health insurance, thus promoting the Democratic goal of universal coverage. Under the legislation, adults without insurance would be required to enroll themselves and their children into Healthy Americans Private Insurance plans, which would provide beneficiaries with the same benefits members of Congress receive.

"(The bill) says coverage is going to be comprehensive and affordable," said Nichols in an interview with AAFP News Now. "It also protects the sick -- those with chronic conditions -- from being discriminated against in the insurance market, as they are today." . . .

"I believe if everyone had a medical home, we could manage a lot of conditions medically and keep people out of the hospital," said Nichols. "We would, therefore, save money in the long run."

In the past 15 months, the bill has picked up 14 co-sponsors, including eight Republicans, who represent the "critical mass" needed to move the health care reform debate forward, Nichols said. He describes the Healthy Americans Act as the "first comprehensive reform bill that has ever been co-sponsored by both parties."

According to Nichols, two key factors will drive health care reform efforts during the next few years: cost considerations and international competition. During the past 20 years, health care costs have jumped dramatically, consuming an ever-increasing share of individual incomes and sparking an outcry from the nation's middle class for health care reform. In 1987, family insurance premiums comprised 7 percent of median family income; that number stands at 17 percent today, Nichols said.

In the meantime, the global economy has put tremendous pressure on American businesses, which are struggling to meet the health care costs of their workers.

"The global economy is here," said Nichols. "It is relentless, it is amoral, it is highly efficient … so fundamentally, we have to figure out how to get health care costs under control."

That is why, he added, business coalitions are "grabbing politicians by the lapels and saying, 'Quit the dance already, let's get this solved.'"

Nichols notes that during the past few years, Republicans and Democrats have undergone fundamental shifts in their respective thinking about health care reform. Democrats have "discovered markets -- they have figured out that the center of health reform needs to be markets and choices," said Nichols. Republicans, for their part, have "discovered that many people cannot afford health care," and have proposed ways to make health insurance more affordable and accessible.

In many ways, the Healthy Americans Act reflects the changing attitudes of both Democrats and Republicans on the issue of health care reform, said Nichols.