Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has left many with the impression that the United States does little public health planning, in general, and had no planned response to a pandemic, in particular. In fact, each decade the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) develops quantifiable objectives to target national heath deficits. The timing of the … Continue reading
Category Archives: Healthcare
The State of Nursing Homes: COVID-19 Accelerates the Shift to Home Health Care
Introduction What is the outlook for nursing homes and home health care industries? There has been a trend toward home health care and away from nursing homes in recent years. The former is less expensive and permits seniors to remain in the community, promoting better social health. The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically accelerated these trends … Continue reading
Racial Discrimination and the Role it Plays in Vaccine Distribution
The thought of a COVID-19 vaccine is quickly working its way towards a reality. Attention is largely focused on distribution and whose responsibility that may be. All states have submitted their initial distribution plans to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One overarching concern among nearly each state is how to provide equitable … Continue reading
The Price of Health: A look into COVID-19 vaccine price plans
The Coronavirus pandemic has swept through America, and the rest of the world, at a rapid pace. There could be days, maybe even weeks, spent on speculation as to why this virus has not been controlled. Was it the President’s response? Was it the lack of supplies in health care facilities? Was it the sheer … Continue reading
I Have to Pay What? The Current State of Surprise Medical Billing
Health insurance is a beautifully, complex thing. Costs for healthcare often varies by the insurance plan. Some plans pay for every penny, while others are more selective in what is covered. However, in the grand scheme of things, when an individual visits a health facility, they can pretty much expect most of their costs to … Continue reading
Fast or For All? COVID-19 Vaccine Development
The United States, along with the rest of the world, has been pushing forward with full force on developing an effective COVID-19 vaccine. With 7 COVID-19 vaccine prospects in phase-three trials, and 17 in or having completed phase-two trials, [I] the idea of having a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year calls attention … Continue reading
How COVID-19 is Affecting Mental Health
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated several known risk factors for mental health issues, unsurprisingly causing a spike in symptoms of depression and anxiety and exacerbating existing mental health conditions. Such risk factors for mental health issues include, but are not limited to, uncertainty and fear of the future, economic instability, social isolation, physical inactivity, … Continue reading
Bringing Out the Worst in Each Other: COVID-19 and Opioid Use Disorder
The COVID-19 pandemic is raising concerns about the medical and psychological implications for those with Substance Use Disorders (SUD), in particular, Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). A White House drug policy office analysis indicates an 11.4% increase in overdose fatalities in the first four months of 2020, compared to the same time last year. Non-fatal overdoses have increased by 18.6% in the same time frame. [I] Individual states have … Continue reading
Who is Excluded from the Stimulus Package?
College students across the nation are angered by the stimulus package presented in the CARES act, specifically their exclusion from the $1,200 stimulus checks. As outlined in the bill, adults with incomes under $75,000 will receive a $1,200 check, couples filing jointly will receive $2,400, and those with children will receive $500 for each additional … Continue reading
How to Lower Health Care Costs: A Webcast from The Hamilton Project
The goal of this webcast, held on March 10, 2020, was to explore how competition, regulation, and reduced administrative expenses can help lower health care costs, strengthen the health care sector, and drive economic growth in the United States. In the United States health care sector, administrative costs are high and competition is generally low— … Continue reading
Policy Interns 
You must be logged in to post a comment.