Key Issues in Health Reform

The Federal Government's Role in Financing and Delivering Health Care - Lowering the Rate of Growth of Medicare Spending - Advance Care Planning for Serious Illness

As in all industrialized nations, the United States government plays a large role in the financing, organizing, overseeing—and in some instances—even delivery of health care. Proposed health reform legislation would clearly change the status quo—and a new policy brief from Health Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation presents the facts in explaining the implications of the current debate on our health care system. The policy brief explains three of the key issues currently attracting attention and sets the record straight on what is true now for patients, payers and providers—and what could change under the health reform legislation being discussed. Topics covered in the brief are:

  • the federal government’s role in financing and delivering care;
  • lowering the rate of growth in Medicare spending; and
  • advance-care planning for serious illness.

Health Affairs/RWJF Health Policy Brief Series

  1. 1 Medicare Payments to Physicians
  2. 2 Premium Support in Medicare
  3. 3 Public Reporting on Quality and Costs
  4. 4 The Prevention and Public Health Fund
  5. 5 Small Business Insurance Exchanges
  6. 6 Next Steps for ACOs
  7. 7 Medicaid Reform
  8. 8 The Independent Payment Advisory Board
  9. 9 Legal Challenges to Health Reform
  10. 10 Community Development and Health
  11. 11 Achieving Equity in Health
  12. 12 Putting Limits on 'Medigap'
  13. 13 The CLASS Act
  14. 14 Improving Quality and Safety
  15. 15 'Unreasonable' Insurance Rate Increases
  16. 16 Employers and Health Care Reform
  17. 17 Congress and the Affordable Care Act
  18. 18 The 1099 Provision
  19. 19 Enrolling More Kids in Medicaid and CHIP
  20. 20 Small Business Tax Credits
  21. 21 Preventive Services Without Cost Sharing
  22. 22 Early Retiree Insurance
  23. 23 Medical Loss Ratios
  24. 24 'Grandfathered' Health Plans
  25. 25 Electronic Health Record Standards
  26. 26 Comparative Effectiveness Research
  27. 27 Patient-Centered Medical Homes
  28. 28 "Meaningful Use" of Electronic Health Records
  29. 29 Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan
  30. 30 Accountable Care Organizations
  31. 31 Extra Federal Medicaid Support Ends
  32. 32 Paying Physicians For Medicare Services
  33. 33 Health Reform's Changes in Medicare
  34. 34 Near-Term Changes in Health Insurance
  35. 35 Employer Mandate
  36. 36 Individual Mandate
  37. 37 Public Health Insurance Plan
  38. 38 Health Insurance Reforms
  39. 39 Individual Responsibility
  40. 40 Key Issues in Health Reform
  41. 41 Shared Responsibility
  42. 42 Coverage for Low-Income People
  43. 43 Tax Debate
  44. 44 A Public Health Insurance Plan
  45. 45 Competitive Bidding in Medicare Advantage
  46. 46 Medicare Advantage Plans

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