Commonwealth Fund News and Research

RSS

Interruptions in Medicaid coverage associated with a higher rate of hospitalization

Interruptions in Medicaid coverage are associated with a higher rate of hospitalization for conditions that can often be treated in an ambulatory care setting, including asthma, diabetes, and hypertension, according to a new study in today's issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

15 Dec 2008

Survey finds health care in the U.S. must be fundamentally reformed

Leaders in health care and health care policy feel strongly that the way we pay for health care in the U.S. must be fundamentally reformed.

4 Nov 2008

More family doctors desperately needed in U.S.

The U.S. desperately needs to increase its numbers of family doctors to improve patients' care and reduce their costs, particularly for those most vulnerable in society.

3 Nov 2008

Commonwealth Fund report examines health care proposals of major Presidential candidates

The health care proposal of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) is more likely to improve health care affordability, accessibility, efficiency and quality than the plan of Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), according to a report released on Thursday by the Commonwealth Fund, Reuters/Boston Globe reports.

5 Oct 2008

Number, percentage of uninsured U.S. residents decreased in 2007, according to U.S. Census Bureau

The number and percentage of uninsured U.S. residents declined in 2007 to 45.7 million people, or 15.3% of the population, according to an annual U.S. Census Bureau report released Tuesday, USA Today reports (Cauchon/Appleby, USA Today, 8/27).

28 Aug 2008

79 million adults with medical bill problems or medical debt in U.S.

The proportion of working-age Americans who have medical bill problems or who are paying off medical debt climbed from 34 percent to 41 percent between 2005 and 2007, bringing the total to 72 million, according to recent survey findings from The Commonwealth Fund. In addition, 7 million adults age 65 and over also had problems paying medical bills, for a total of 79 million adults with medical bill problems or medical debt.

20 Aug 2008

NYT examines potential for cost savings in Obama's health plan

A promise from presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) that his health care proposal would reduce health insurance premiums for the average family by $2,500 "is one of the most audacious promises in a campaign that has been thick with them," the New York Times reports. In addition, Obama has promised to implement a health plan by the end of his first term as president.

24 Jul 2008

U.S. health care debate must address 'plight of the underinsured,' editorial states

While reducing health care costs and the number of uninsured U.S. residents "are critical priorities for this country, ... the health care debate needs a wider focus to also address the plight of the underinsured," a New York Times editorial states.

17 Jun 2008

Philadelphia Inquirer examines health care price transparency issue

The Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday examined the issue of "price transparency," in which hospitals and health systems make their charges for treatments more apparent.

10 Jun 2008

Panel discusses expanding health coverage to uninsured via 'early Medicare' program

At a panel discussion on Friday, lawmakers and health experts considered a Commonwealth Fund proposal that would provide health insurance to 44 million of the 48 million uninsured U.S. residents, CQ HealthBeat reports (Wyckoff, CQ HealthBeat, 6/6).

10 Jun 2008

Number of uninsured Massachusetts residents decreased by nearly half in 2007

The number of uninsured Massachusetts adults declined by nearly half last year, according to the first major study of the state's health insurance law published online Tuesday in Health Affairs, the New York Times reports (Sack, New York Times, 6/3).

3 Jun 2008

Prime Healthcare to acquire three hospitals from Tenet Healthcare

Prime Healthcare Services has acquired the 151-bed Encino Campus of Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center from Tenet Healthcare Corporation ("Tenet") effective June 1 and will operate the hospital as Encino Hospital Medical Center.

2 Jun 2008

13.7 million young adults in the United States lack health insurance coverage

The number of uninsured young adults in the United States rose to 13.7 million in 2006-an increase from 13.3 million in 2005-making the 19-to-29 age group one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the population without health insurance. According to a newly updated report from The Commonwealth Fund, 38 percent of high school graduates who do not attend college and 34 percent of college graduates will spend some time uninsured in the year after graduation.

1 Jun 2008

States that rank high in measures of children's health tend to have lower rates of uninsured children, higher health costs

Children in states with higher rates of insured children are more likely to receive higher-quality health care, according to a Commonwealth Fund study released Wednesday, McClatchy/Kansas City Star reports.

28 May 2008

Report proposes near-universal health coverage system allowing individuals, small businesses to purchase insurance through private plans or new Medicare-like option

A national health insurance "connector" program that allows individuals and small businesses to buy public and private health coverage could provide insurance for up to 44 million uninsured U.S. residents, according to an article by the Commonwealth Fund published in the May/June issue of the journal Health Affairs, CQ HealthBeat reports.

13 May 2008

Facing the Presidential candidates; pollsters say sweeping health reform unlikely in new administration and congress

Despite the prominent role that health care reform is playing in the 2008 presidential election, leading Republican and Democratic pollsters agree that deep partisan divides among voters -- combined with a worsening economy -- may permit only incremental, rather than sweeping, changes to the health care system. The perspectives of political pollsters William McInturff and Celinda Lake are featured in a far-reaching thematic issue on health reform in the May/June 2008 issue of the journal Health Affairs.

13 May 2008

AP/Miami Herald looks at Democratic Presidential candidates' proposed health plans

The AP/Miami Herald on Sunday looked at the health plans proposed by Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.). While likely Republican nominee Sen. John McCain said the Democratic plans would "move closer to a nationalized health system," AP/Herald describes that characterization as "a stretch."

13 May 2008

Who pays for health care when workers are uninsured?

Health insurance coverage and unpaid health care for full-time workers and their family members without employer coverage costs the U.S. public $45 billion a year, according to a report from The Commonwealth Fund released today.

2 May 2008

Black babies with very low birth weights more likely to be born in hospitals with high neonatal death rates

In New York City, black babies with very low birth weights (less than 1,500 grams, or 3 pounds, 5 ounces) are more likely to be born in hospitals with high risk-adjusted neonatal death rates, according to a Commonwealth Fund-supported study in the March issue of Pediatrics.

4 Mar 2008

France, Japan and Australia top in dealing with preventable deaths...U.S. bottom!

When it comes to dealing with preventable deaths researchers have found that the French, Japanese and Australians are at the top of the league and the Americans at the bottom.

9 Jan 2008

Commonwealth Fund News and Research

Interruptions in Medicaid coverage associated with a higher rate of hospitalization

Survey finds health care in the U.S. must be fundamentally reformed

More family doctors desperately needed in U.S.

Commonwealth Fund report examines health care proposals of major Presidential candidates

Number, percentage of uninsured U.S. residents decreased in 2007, according to U.S. Census Bureau

79 million adults with medical bill problems or medical debt in U.S.

NYT examines potential for cost savings in Obama's health plan

U.S. health care debate must address 'plight of the underinsured,' editorial states

Philadelphia Inquirer examines health care price transparency issue

Panel discusses expanding health coverage to uninsured via 'early Medicare' program

Number of uninsured Massachusetts residents decreased by nearly half in 2007

Prime Healthcare to acquire three hospitals from Tenet Healthcare

13.7 million young adults in the United States lack health insurance coverage

States that rank high in measures of children's health tend to have lower rates of uninsured children, higher health costs

Report proposes near-universal health coverage system allowing individuals, small businesses to purchase insurance through private plans or new Medicare-like option

Facing the Presidential candidates; pollsters say sweeping health reform unlikely in new administration and congress

AP/Miami Herald looks at Democratic Presidential candidates' proposed health plans

Who pays for health care when workers are uninsured?

Black babies with very low birth weights more likely to be born in hospitals with high neonatal death rates

France, Japan and Australia top in dealing with preventable deaths...U.S. bottom!

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Latest News