Key Issues in National Health Care Policy

As part of our commitment to educating our members, policymakers and the public, ACHP and the ACHP Foundation maintain a series on Key Issues in National Health Care Policy. Using data from leading sources, the series discusses important health care issues and trends in a manner accessible to a broad audience. We add new items on a regular basis and continuously update existing materials.    

Updated March 2009
The Federal Budget Environment 

This presentation reviews the federal fiscal situation over the next 10 years and implications for Medicare and Medicaid.

Medicare and Medicaid Share of Federal Spending

Updated March 2009
National Health Spending

This presentation reviews national health care spending and looks at the drivers of ever-increasing spending and examines who is paying. The presentation also examines the implications of rising health care costs on coverage. 

Personal Health Expenditures: Percent Distribution by Type of Service

 

 

Updated March 2009

Health Benefits and Coverage  

This presentation discusses the health care environment that has led to the rise of high-deductible health plans, which are increasingly being coupled with HSAs. It also include new data on underinsurance rates, limited benefit plans and key drivers of consumer engagement.

  

Health Plan Enrollments for Covered Workers by Plan Type  

Updated March 2009
The Uninsured and Health Care Reform 

This presentation reviews trends in sources of coverage and in the uninsured. It looks at the likelihood of being uninsured and characteristics of the uninsured, as well as consequences of being uninsured. 

Characteristics of Uninsured, Non-Elderly: Work Status of Head of Household in 2007

Updated March 2009
Health Care Quality and Variations in Care 

This presentation is a compilation of research that discusses the substantial variations in health care quality that exist in the United States and the approaches offered by the Institute of Medicine to address the quality shortfall.

Higher Medicare Spending and Quality

Updated March 2009
Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans 

This presentation briefly describes the enrollment and characteristics of organizations offering the Medicare Advantage plans and the Part D drug benefit. 

Prescription Drug Coverage Among Medicare Beneficiaries for 2009  

Updated March 2009
Medicaid 

This primer on the Medicaid program discusses eligibility, financing, services and other issues. It also looks at the basics of The State Children's Health Insurance Program. 

Minimum Medicaid Eligibility Levels in 2008

 

Performance Measurement and Paying for Performance in Medicare: Health Plans, Hospitals and Physicians
This issue brief is to provide an overview of current efforts to measure health plan, hospital and physician performance and to link financial incentives with improvements in performance.

The Quality of Diabetes Care in Medicare Advantage

This issue brief  looks at trends in diabetes care among Medicare Advantage health plans between 2002 and 2005.