Category Archives: International health policy

We’re not alone.

Comparing mandates – Learning from Switzerland

Posted on June 22, 2007 by

The Massachusetts Health Policy Forum, in collaboration with HCFA, hosted an interactive discussion today with former President of the Swiss Federation, and current Head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs, Ruth Dreifuss, at Gardner Auditorium. The event, Universal Coverage … Continue reading →

Posted in International health policy, MA Health Reform | 2 Comments

Getting Down with the Swiss

Posted on May 31, 2007 by

The Massachusetts Health Policy Forum and Health Care For All are co-sponsoring a public forum: “Universal Coverage and Individual Mandate in Switzerland: Lessons for Massachusetts” on Friday, June 22, 2007 from 9:45am-11:30am at Gardner Auditorium in the State House in … Continue reading →

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US: We’re Number One in All the Wrong Ways

Posted on May 20, 2007 by

Last month, at an Oklahoma University debate on MA health reform, Michael Tanner from the Cato Institute and I tussled over whether the US health care system is the best in the world. I was pretty incredulous that Tanner really … Continue reading →

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A Peek at the Israeli Health System II

Posted on March 20, 2007 by

(Haifa): Previous post focused on some differences between the US and Israeli health systems – especially around financing and access. Now for some similarities on these other concerns. Perhaps it’s superfluous to mention, but “universal coverage” is far from the … Continue reading →

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A Peek at the Israeli Health System I

Posted on March 17, 2007 by

I’m over here in Israel on a delegation sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston. The trip is not about health care, though the 20 participants spent time at the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem learning details … Continue reading →

Posted in International health policy | 9 Comments

That Was Quick — Swiss Voters Reject One Payer, 71-29%

Posted on March 11, 2007 by

Results are in from the ballot initiative election today in Switzerland. Voters rejected reducing the number of insurers from 87 to 1, and fixing premium contributions based on income and wealth, by a vote of 71 to 29 percent. Click … Continue reading →

Posted in International health policy | 6 Comments

Swiss Treat: Single Payer on the Ballot — in Switzerland

Posted on March 11, 2007 by

There’s an election today worth keeping an eye on. Voters in Switzerland are going to the polls today to decide whether to reorganize their national health system by reducing the number of health insurers from the current 87 to 1. … Continue reading →

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Dutch Treat II: Are We the New Netherlands?

Posted on August 7, 2006 by

This morning a presentation at the Blue Cross Foundation by economist Piet de Bekker, Policy Advisor for the Directorate of Macro-Economic Affairs and Labor Relations of the Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (yes, sport – can you imagine … Continue reading →

Posted in International health policy, MA Health Reform, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

A UK Medical View on US Health Care

Posted on July 1, 2006 by

Thanks to Nancy Turnbull for tipping me off to this juicy editorial from the new British Medical Journal. Do the members of the British Medical Association (BMA) seem hungry for our system? Judge for yourself: Say no to the market … Continue reading →

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Dutch Treat: Will Massachusetts Be the Next Netherlands?

Posted on June 27, 2006 by

In Seattle over the weekend at the annual AcademyHealth Conference (nirvana for health policy wonks), I’m drawn to a session on health system reform in Western Europe. Can you feel the excitement?! Well, it was fabulous. Some takeaways: • Every … Continue reading →

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