Health Care Publications

Medicaid Matters in Idaho

Medicaid-Matters-ID-Cover
“Medicaid does more than provide health coverage and services for seniors, low-income  children and families, and people with disabilities. It is also an economic engine.”
An Alliance report released just last month details the growing need for medicaid coverage in the state, while lawmakers are continuing a trend toward reducing more critical services. The result is a stark economic impact on local economy should the cuts continue.
“Despite Medicaid’s importance to Idahoans, the state has begun to slash its investment in the program. These cuts are already resulting in people going without the health care they need. They are also beginning to unravel the system of community-based services that have helped thousands of Idahoans…”

Medicaid Matters in Idaho

The State of Health Care Reform

Health care reform in the United States has come a long way. But much work remains.

This series of papers by AJS Federal Issues Policy Director Bill Daley examines the state of health care reform in the U.S. and the role state-level policy-making will play as we move forward and implement the Affordable Care Act. Continue reading »

Left in the Dark

Today, members of the Health Rights Organizing Project called on the federal government to prevent health insurance companies from denying health care to people who speak limited English. Under the new health reform law, patients have the right to appeal insurance companies’ health care denials. Insurers are supposed to inform patients of these rights, including patients not fluent in English. Continue reading »

Medicaid Makes a Difference Report

Congress is locked in a budget battle that’s grabbed round-the-clock media attention. Lost in the coverage are the real stakes in the debate, including the lives of the more than 50 million people covered by Medicaid, which is now in the budget-cutting cross-hairs. More than half of these 50 million are people of color. Racial disparities in health coverage have already reached alarming proportions. Cuts to Medicaid would make these disparities even worse, taking a toll on the real lives of real people.

The experiences and perspectives of some of these real people are captured in Medicaid Makes a Difference: Protecting Medicaid, Advancing Racial Equity, from the Alliance for a Just Society and 14 members of its Health Rights Organizing Project, a network of grassroots organizations across the country committed to the fight for health equity.
 Continue reading »

Medicaid Matters to Idaho Counties: State Investment in Medicaid Means Jobs and Economic Activity

This report contributes to the public discussion of Medicaid and the state budget by providing county-by-county data on the contributions Medicaid makes to the economy and the quality of life in Idaho.

Click here to download the full report. Continue reading »

Opening the Door

The Importance of Language and Literacy Access under Health Reform

The primary goal of health care reform is to reduce uninsured rates and thereby ensure access to quality health care for the approximately 46.3 million currently uninsured. This population consists disproportionately of people of color, immigrants and low-income people. Continue reading »

Rules of the Road

Regulating Insurance Companies Is a Critical Component of Health Reform

Much remains to be decided about the rules of health reform. Accordingly, elected officials and policymakers on both the state and federal level should promote quality coverage and ensure the strongest possible oversight of the health insurance industry, thereby protecting the health and financial wellbeing of consumers. Continue reading »

Native Health Underfunded & Promises Unfulflled

The Importance of Investing in the Indian Health Service

The United States government has an obligation based on treaty and statute to meet the health care needs of Native people. The Indian Health Service (IHS), a federal agency, provides health care to many Native people but also has been severely and chronically underfunded. To illuminate the problem of IHS underfunding, this report shares the perspectives of directors, administrators and physicians at health care organizations within the IHS system. These health care facilities deliver crucial services to Native people but often cannot provide needed comprehensive services because of the severe shortfall in resources. Continue reading »

An American Debt Unpaid: Stories of Native Health

An American Debt Unpaid: Stories of Native Health shares the experiences of Native people struggling to get the health care they need. The contributors provide personal accounts of their efforts to be treated with respect by practitioners, as well as their fight to improve the health and well being of their communities.

The Health Equity Challenge: People of Color are Living Sicker and Dying Younger in California

Across California and nationwide, health care reform has become a key priority. Health disparities harm all members of a community, and securing a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for everyone in America requires attention to racial disparities in health care. This report discusses some of the key health disparities in California and the United States and makes recommendations for addressing those disparities.

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