Monthly Archives: December 2005

I know this may be hard for many to believe, but the $200K business campaign to smear the House health reform legislation in general — and the fair share employer assessment in particular — is full of distortions, half truths, … Continue reading →

As we prepared for the 1/1/06 launch of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, there’s good news for 270,000 Mass. seniors because of passage of a new law yesterday (and its signing today). Here’s an update from our consumer … Continue reading →

Here’s an early Valentine we received from the Valley Advocate in Northampton as part of their: “HALOS & HORNS Our annual roundup of the good and bad, the naughty and nice, the stupid and smart, and the laudable and laughable: … Continue reading →

OK, my vote for the most important book of 2005 — Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive, Jared Diamond. If we don’t read and understood Diamond’s lessons, we’re screwed — not just US, but worldwide. Frightening, mind-bending, and … Continue reading →

Faithful Health Blog readers will not be surprised by the arguments — nonetheless, for those few who aren’t regular readers, here’s a link to my op-ed in today’s Boston Globe that outlines our best case for the House-approved payroll assessment … Continue reading →

Mass. Taxpayers Foundation has weighed in (or should I say, “piled on”) with a new report on the MA health reform process. In brief: individual mandate — good; payroll tax on employers who don’t cover their workers — bad; expanding … Continue reading →

Business groups opposed to the House health reform plan that would require businesses that don’t provide health insurance to workers to pay a 5-7% payroll assessment are beginning a serious mobilization to undermine the House plan. Below are three communications … Continue reading →

To prepare for the January 1 start of the Medicare Drug Benefit (Part D), the City of Baltimore is readying their emergency surveillance and response systems. That’s right – they’re treating this as a public health threat. Click here for … Continue reading →

Check out Chip Joffe Halpern’s new column on health reform in today’s North Adams Daily Transcript. Chip runs Ecu-Care which helps uninsured persons in Berkshire County get medical care and he’s the President of HCFA’s Board. Here’s a tidbit: “We … Continue reading →

From Our Friends at FamiliesUSA: As of last week, it looked as if the US House and Senate would agree on a budget that would be far less harmful to Medicaid beneficiaries than the House’s version. All that changed for … Continue reading →