Allies in Action

Effective State Exchanges Key to Lower Health Costs for Consumers

February 25, 2011

U.S. PIRG has launched a new series of policy briefs designed to help policymakers address rising health care costs through state health insurance exchanges.

Cutting Funds for Prevention and Public Health

February 24, 2011

The Campaign for Public Health (CPH) has sent a memo to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Daniel Inouye (D-HI), and Ranking member, Richard Shelby (R-AL), asking for their support to oppose efforts to cut or redirect dollars from the Prevention and Public Health Fund that was created under the ACA.

Community Catalyst Supports State Health Advocates in Effective and Consumer-Focused Implementation of the ACA

February 2, 2011

State advocates, national organizations and funders will play a pivotal role in the effective and consumer-focused implementation of the health care reform law. Community Catalyst has announced its creation of the Affordable Care Act Implementation Fund.

Repeal, A Critical Step Backward on Cost Control

January 20, 2011

Center for American Progress released a report on January 19, 2011, the same day the U.S. House of Representatives voted to the repeal of the health reform bill.

Working Class Americans Benefiting from the ACA

January 18, 2011

The ACA has been charged with harming small businesses and inhibiting job growth, but, according to the Small Businesses Majority (SBM) national survey, the opposite could be true.

Costly Consequences of Repeal for Consumers and Small Businesses

January 10, 2011

U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) released a new report, The Cost of Repeal: Examining the Impact on Consumers and Businesses of Repealing the New Federal Health Care Law.  The report assesses the costs and benefits the repeal will have on American consumers and small businesses if enacted by Congress or the courts. 

Cost Saving in the Medicaid Drug Program

December 15, 2010

In July of 2010, AEI released a Working Paper, “Overspending on Multi-Source Drugs in Medicaid,” by Alex Brill, which provides an estimate of inefficient state and federal government spending in the Medicaid Drug Program.

Code Blue: Have Health System Troubles Changed Since 1929?

December 2, 2010

In 1932, the Committee on the Costs of Medical Care released its final report on the health care system cost drivers and problems at the time. Many of these difficulties mirror today’s health system challenges. Karen O’Connor, founder of Code Blue Now!, a grassroots health reform advocacy group, has been analyzing the 1932 report and comparing it to the recent health care debates and ongoing issues.

The New Innovation Center Sparks Excitement

November 16, 2010

On November 16, 2010, Campaign for Better Care, lead by Debra Ness, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families, released a statement about the launch of the new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center) created by the Affordable Care Act.

AAFP and CMS Discuss the Importance of Primary Care

October 1, 2010

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator, Dr. Donald Berwick, met with representatives of the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) to discuss the provisions in the ACA that affect primary care.