Reports Examines Tax Reform’s Impact on Health Insurance, Tort Reform, SCHIP Dental Coverage
- "Tax Reform and Health Insurance," American Enterprise Institute: The article, by Robert Helms, director of health policy studies at AEI, examines the history of how tax policies have shaped the current health insurance system and discusses options for changing tax policies that could "lead the way toward more comprehensive health care reform" (Helms, "Tax Reform and Health Insurance," 2/3).
- "Tort Reform Focus," Journal of the American Medical Association: The article by reporter Mike Mitka examines how malpractice reform has become a "front-burner issue" following Republicans' success in the November 2004 elections. While Bush has proposed capping noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases at $250,000, Democrats have said Bush's plan would protect drug companies, insurers and doctors at the expense of injured patients, according to Mitka (Mitka, Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/9).
- "SCHIP Takes a Bite Out of the Dental Access Gap for Low-Income Children," Mathematica Policy Research: The report by researcher Shanna Shulman, Megan Kell and colleagues at Mathematic examines how SCHIP has helped improve dental care for low-income children. While low-income children historically have had difficulty accessing dental care, the decision by most states to include dental benefits in SCHIP has improved access, the report says, adding, however, that there are still some barriers to care. According to the report, SCHIP enrollment is closely linked to improved dental care for children, and states' efforts to address barriers to dental care represent an "important first step toward closing the dental care gap between high- and low-income children" (Shulman et al., "SCHIP Takes a Bite Out of the Dental Access Gap for Low-Income Children," November 2004).
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