Health Policy

Providing research, insight and analysis on key issues affecting health and health care in the United States.

Topic Areas, Two-Page Briefs & Fast Facts

Health Impact Assessments

Health impact assessments (HIAs) allow policy-makers to consider how proposed policies that may seem unrelated to health—the development of a new transit system, for example—would affect health, and could be used to improve it.

Learn more about HIAs

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Featured Poll

Bipartisan Public Support Found for Creating State Insurance Exchanges

Of several potential policy priorities for the states, health insurance exchanges emerges as No. 1.

Selected Slides

Scroll through the slide deck to view key findings.

  1. It's the Top Priority
  2. Should Medicaid Be Expanded?
  3. Unity Across Party Lines
  4. States Should Expand Medicaid
  5. It's Personal
  6. Split Up the Middle
  7. How Well is Medicaid Working for You?
  8. The Great Divide
  9. The Wealthy Should Pay More
  10. The Biggest Threats to Health

A majority of Americans put the creation of state-based health insurance exchanges at the top of the priority list for health policy in their state this year, according to a survey released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health. In this comprehensive survey, researchers queried the public about their priorities for, and views on, a wide range of health and health policy issues that are currently preoccuping federal lawmakers.

Key Findings:

  • 55 percent of respondents, including majorities of Republicans and Democrats, say that establishing state insurance exchanges should be a “top priority” for their governor and legislature.
  • 52 percent support the expansion of Medicaid in their state. 
  • 58 percent oppose any spending cuts to Medicare and 46 percent oppose any cuts to Medicaid.
55%

of Americans say establishing state health insurance exchanges should be a top priority

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Health Affairs/RWJF Health Policy Brief Series

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Essential Health Benefits

The ACA requires that health insurance plans sold to individuals and small businesses provide a minimum package of services called “essential health benefits.”

The HHS has allowed each state to choose from a set of plans rather than set a national standard for these benefits. This policy brief
explores the background of this debate and the policy implications surrounding essential health benefits.

Read the brief
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Per Capita Caps in Medicaid

Medicaid is one of the largest, most expensive public health insurance programs in the United States and spending is expected to grow to $795 billion by 2021. This policy brief examines the issues surrounding per capita caps in Medicaid and explores other policy options for states and the federal government.

Read the brief

News Digest

Navigating Health Reform Implementation

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Health Reform GPS

Final Rule: Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2014

This brief reviews the final rule on the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters which contains the provisions regarding the "Triple R" regulations.

Interim Final Rule: Alternative Approaches to Cost-Sharing Reduction Payment and Risk Corridor Calculations

This brief examines the temporary risk corridors program and the cost-sharing reduction payments outlined in the interim final rule.

View all implementation briefs

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