November 2009
“Democrats risk taxing the wealthy for healthcare,” Los
Angeles Times, Nov. 20, 2009
“Taxing the rich works because they’ve got the money,” said Roberton Williams, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. But, he warned, “you can't go to that well over and over again.”
“Senate tax hike misses the mark,” CNNMoney.com, Nov. 20, 2009
“Finding the revenue to pay for health reform was always going to be a huge challenge,” wrote tax expert Howard Gleckman, editor of the TaxVox blog. “It still is, but we are beginning to see the outlines of a deal -- a little income tax surcharge here, a dollop of insurance premium excise tax there, and more than a few cats and dogs.”
“Primary-care doctor crunch offers no quick fix,” MarketWatch.com, Nov. 19, 2009
“We have an undersupply of physicians willing to be generalists, and that's largely primary care but not just primary care,” said Robert Berenson, a fellow at the Urban Institute. “There aren't enough general surgeons either.”
“California Non-Profits Are Not as Diverse as State,” New America Media, Nov. 19, 2009
“I was surprised, to an extent,” said Carol De Vita, co-author of the study from the Urban Institute. “California is viewed as such a diverse state. It was interesting to see how it measured up compared to other studies nationally.”
“Counseling helps borrowers avoid foreclosure, study finds,” Washington Post, Nov. 18, 2009
Troubled homeowners who receive housing counseling are 60 percent more likely to avoid foreclosure and have their mortgage payments lowered significantly than borrowers who navigate the process themselves, according to a study to be released Wednesday. The study, by the D.C.-based Urban Institute, examines the effectiveness of the government-funded National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling program, established in late 2007 to counter growing foreclosure rates.
“Health Overhaul Sparks Debate On Future Of Children's Health Program,” Kaiser Health News, Nov. 17, 2009
If CHIP enrollees moved into exchanges face higher co-payments for doctor’s visits and prescriptions, their families might not enroll in the exchanges or use the benefits, said
Stan Dorn, senior research associate at the Urban Institute. “The research in pretty clear: With low-income families if you charge more per visit people go without necessary services because they just can’t afford it,” Dorn said. “The benefits would be there in theory but not in reality because it’s not affordable to them.”
“Socialist Nightmare Might Make U.S. Healthier: Celestine Bohlen,” Bloomberg.com, Nov. 17, 2009
As the health-care debate moves to the Senate, before the pundits start waving the specter of socialism again, it’s useful to take a look at a study for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute…. “In light of the fact that the United States spends twice as much per person on health care as its peers, those who question the value for money obtained in U.S. health expenditures are on firm footing,” the authors concluded. “Faced with the evidence, one might well ask why it is that assertions of the superiority of U.S. health care are so common.”
“Hospital profits plunged in '08, but for different reasons than expected: AHA,” Modern Healthcare, Nov. 16, 2009
Given the magnitude of economic upheaval in 2008, Urban Institute Senior Fellow Stephen Zuckerman said hospitals seemed to have done well in weathering the recession, apart from the massive investment losses, which had already begun to turn positive again in 2009…. “Hospitals have always been pretty creative. They've faced financial challenges in the past, and have been able to reorganize the ways they do things and adjust their staffing,” Zuckerman said. “You can't approach this in terms of thinking that hospitals' costs are a given and their margins only fluctuate as revenues fluctuate. In fact, the expenses that a hospital incurs are very much in their power to change.”
“Millions to Owe IRS Due for Stimulus Credit,” Wall Street Journal, Nov. 16, 2009
Elaine Maag, a research associate at the nonprofit Tax Policy Center, said Congress and Treasury officials knew from the outset that the credit could get money into the economy quickly, but at the risk that some taxpayers would ultimately have to pay money back. “They had to make a judgment call, and this was the simplest thing to do,” said Ms. Maag. “They definitely wanted to err on the side of getting money out the door.”
“House health bill includes Medicaid relief for states,” Washington Post, Nov. 16, 2009
John Holahan, a Medicaid expert at the Urban Institute, said that if it had not come up in the course of health-care legislation, it probably was only a matter of time before Congress would have had to address the end of Medicaid stimulus funding. "When we got into 2010, there was going to be a lot of talk about a need for more stimulus. I guess maybe to avoid that they put it in here," Holahan said. "It was going to come up somehow, we're going to be looking at high unemployment and swollen Medicaid rolls beyond 2010," he said.
“The Role Young Americans Play in Health Care Reform,” Nightly Business Report, Nov. 13, 2009
Stephen Zuckerman: “The group that is having the greatest affordability problems right now are older individuals who are not yet eligible for Medicare.”
“S. Florida seniors' coverage may be cut,” Miami Herald, Nov. 13, 2009
Local congressional leaders are battling for regional protection, but Robert Berenson, a healthcare specialist with the Washington-based Urban Institute, warns that the result won't make everyone happy. "I'm not saying nobody will feel any pain over this.''
“Hispanics Hold Few Leadership Positions at Calif. Nonprofit Groups,” Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nov. 12, 2009
The report, by the Urban Institute, a think tank in Washington, says that the study shows that leadership posts are dominated by whites within California’s 34,250 or so nonprofit organizations. Racial and ethnic minorities hold 25 percent of such positions, but represent 57 percent of the population.
“Cost Estimates Prove Key to Health Reform Debate,” Online NewsHour, Nov. 12, 2009
CBO analysts begin by gathering the relevant data, explains former CBO director Rudolph Penner, now at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. For example, because the [health reform] legislation now under consideration in Congress would provide subsidies based on income levels, analysts must have accurate information about the income distribution in the United States, as well as insurance coverage rates at those different incomes.
“Apartments are available, but too costly for many, study finds,” Times-Picayune (New Orleans), Nov. 12, 2009
There is a glut of vacant apartments in New Orleans but the people who need them can't afford them, according to a study released today by a pair of research organizations. The study estimates that by next year, the city will have a surplus of at least 6,582 market-rate apartments but a need for 13,429 affordable apartments or housing subsidies that could make higher-rate apartments affordable. The report was prepared by the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center and the Urban Institute's Center on Metropolitan Housing and Communities.
“HEALTH REFORM: The Cost Of Doing Nothing,” Time magazine’s Swampland blog, Nov. 11, 2009
But Rob Shapiro, who was a top economic adviser during the Clinton Administration, puts the cost of doing nothing in a perspective that is easy to understand. According to Shapiro, if things keep going the way they are headed, the typical middle class family could find itself paying one-third of its income for health care within five to six years. Here's how Shapiro does the numbers, based on analysis by Urban Institute economist
Eugene Steuerle.”
"Fewer losing homes in D.C. area," The Washington Post, Nov. 13, 2009
The data also buttress a recent report by the Urban Institute that found that the number of Washington-area homeowners in foreclosure proceedings has more than doubled in the past year. The Washington-based nonprofit that conducts policy research found that the problem remains most acute in a few counties -- Charles, Prince George's and Prince William -- but warned that it could get worse as more borrowers fall behind on payments.
"Finding a compromise between health and money," Parker Chronicle (Castle Rock, Colo.), Nov. 13, 2009
Young adults are uninsured for a variety of reasons. According to a 2008 study by the Urban Institute, young adults are less likely to work for employers who offer coverage; they may not qualify for public programs such as Medicaid; and even the leanest private insurance plans may be too expensive when combined with student loan payments and credit card debt.
"Hispanics Hold Few Leadership Positions at Calif. Nonprofit Groups," The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nov. 12, 2009
The report, by the Urban Institute, a think tank in Washington, says that the study shows that leadership posts are dominated by whites within California’s 34,250 or so nonprofit organizations. Racial and ethnic minorities hold 25 percent of such positions, but represent 57 percent of the population.
"Like the findings of other diversity reports, this study finds that the leadership of California’s nonprofit sector is not as diverse as its population,” it says.
"Cost Estimates Prove Key to Health Reform Debate," The Online NewsHour, Nov. 12, 2009
CBO analysts begin by gathering the relevant data, explains former CBO director Rudolph Penner, now at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. For example, because the legislation now under consideration in Congress would provide subsidies based on income levels, analysts must have accurate information about the income distribution in the United States, as well as insurance coverage rates at those different incomes.
"As Foundations Close, Anxiety for Charities," The New York Times, Nov. 11, 2009
Some 9 percent to 12 percent of foundations are in spend-down mode, and roughly a quarter are considering the idea, surveys by the Urban Institute and the Foundation Center found.
"More criticism of McCarthy's vote on reform," The Bakersfield Californian, Nov. 11, 2009
A recent Urban Institute report indicates that unless we enact changes now, those who manage to keep their coverage will pay an even heftier price over the next 10 years, with individual and family spending on health care increasing in California by 46 percent by 2019. Nationally, up to 57 million Americans could find themselves uninsured, including nearly 9 million in California by 2019. And this, according to the report, is the best-case scenario.
"Should Older People Pay More for Health Insurance?" The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 10, 2009
The big health-care bills in Congress would still allow variation, but the range would be capped. Under the House bill, insurers could charge older people twice what they charge younger people. The Senate bill could allow a ratio of 3 to 1, the WSJ suggests; this Urban Institute report from last month cites congressional proposals for caps as high as 5 to 1.
For example: Under a 2-to-1 ratio, a 20-year-old could pay $2,965 per year and a 60-year-old could pay $5,930 per year, the Urban Institute estimates. Under a 5-to-1 ratio, the 20-year-old’s premium could fall to $1,884 per year, while the 60-year-old’s could rise to $9,420.
"Experts help county ease transition after jail," La Crosse Tribune, Nov. 10, 2009
Jannetta said it is important that inmates receive the same services outside of jail that they received on the inside. He said the effort should be a collaborative between the jail and other criminal justice agencies, and the community.
"D.C.'s 'Failure to Launch' national health care policy," The San Francisco Chronicle, Nov. 8, 2009
As health care expert Steve Zuckerman of the Urban Institute noted, putting young adults on their parents' policies means more premiums for insurers to cover a group that has pretty low claims.
"Age-Rating: Arcane Issue to Effect Costs for Young, Middle-Aged," The Baltimore Sun, Nov. 7, 2009
"There's no argument that healthcare spending for older adults is substantially higher than younger adults," said Linda Blumberg of the Urban Institute, a Washington think tank that has studied the matter. "The issue is how we want to distribute those costs.
For example, according to a recent Urban Institute study, if the age-rating ratio were set at 2 to 1, a typical 58-year-old policy-holder would pay about $5,900 a year for health insurance. If the age rating were 4 to 1, the premium could jump to $8,650 a year.
"You Get a Tax Credit! You Get a Tax Credit!" The Atlantic, Nov. 6, 2009
TaxVox, a Tax Policy Center blog, sighs that this extended tax credit, which follows on the heels of Cash for Clunkers, a credit for car swaps, presages a future in which tax credits are handed out like cars on a special episode of Oprah.
Bob Williams has some fun with this, imagining a dystopia with tax credits for new stock buyers, for "real" (paper) book buyers, and for Yuletide gifts bought using "handwritten letters to Santa from children under age 15 who live with relatives at least nine months during 2009 and still believe in Santa, the tooth fairy, and the Easter bunny."
"No Way Around Estate Taxes, It Seems," The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 4, 2009
"This year, the federal exemption rose to $3.5 million per individual, or as much as $7 million per married couple. At the current level, only 5,500 estates a year are federally taxable. That is down from the 17,500 estates that would have faced death taxes under the previous $2 million limit, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center estimates."
"Older Hispanics hit by high jobless rate," Marketplace Morning Report, Nov. 5, 2009
Richard Johnson: "I think older Hispanics get hit with this double whammy. They sometimes face discrimination because of their ethnicity, and sometimes they face discrimination because of their age."
"Unhealthy America," New York Times, Nov. 4, 2009
Yet another study, cited in a recent report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute, looked at how well 19 developed countries succeeded in avoiding "preventable deaths," such as those where a disease could be cured or forestalled. What Senator Shelby called "the best health care system" ranked in last place.
"Health-Care Reform's Hidden Taxes," BusinessWeek, Nov. 4, 2009
Altogether, insurers, drug companies, and device makers could be on tap for roughly $120 billion in fees over the next decade. Problem is, a big portion of those taxes are likely to be recouped in the form of higher prices or increased premiums. "It's a fiction," says Roberton Williams, a former Congressional Budget Office official now with the nonpartisan Urban Institute's Tax Policy Center. "The excise taxes won't be paid by the companies; they'll be passed right back to their customers."
"No Credit To Congress On Deficit," Forbes.com, Nov. 4
"Almost everything disappears at the end of next year," says Roberton Williams, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center here. "If that happens, almost everyone who pays taxes will see a substantial tax increase."
"Mixed results as confidence in schools appears to erode," Boston Globe, Nov. 1, 2009
"Having a mayor in control of education is not a silver bullet," said Jane Hannaway, director of the Education Policy Center at the Urban Institute, a public policy research group in Washington, D.C., noting that no one has found the solution to fixing urban schools. "If there were some quick way to do it, it would spread like wildfire across the country."
October 2009
"Foreclosures double in Washington area," Washington Post, Oct. 28, 2009
"We were surprised that the D.C. region — with one of the strongest economies in the country and less subprime lending -- would see such an increase [in foreclosure activity]," said Kathy Pettit, a lead researcher for the report.
"Easing Impact of a Tax Rise," New York Times, Oct. 28, 2009
… the tax cuts sponsored by President George W. Bush lapse at the end of next year. Those cuts will have saved individuals, and cost the government, $2.34 trillion, according to calculations the Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan research institute, made for The New York Times. The Bush and Obama administrations have called the center's past calculations reliable.
"Health Care Pools: Let Youth Jump, Or Push Them?" NPR, Oct. 27, 2009
But the insurance industry is leaving out a critical element, says Linda Blumberg, a researcher at the Urban Institute. She says the current health overhaul bills all provide subsidies for lower income Americans, and "the young adults tend to be lower income, so they really are buffered a great deal from the full impact." Blumberg is worried more about middle-income older Americans — those between 55 and 64 years old. Discounts for younger people mean "surcharges" for older ones — and those older adults are less likely to qualify for a government subsidy.
"Fears of a New Chill in Home Sales," New York Times, Oct. 27, 2009
Roberton Williams: "The bigger threat to the housing market is not the reduction in demand from the end of the [homebuyer] credit, but the continuing wave of foreclosures we're likely to see over the next 18 months."
"Cameras may police city streets," Atlanta Journal Constitution, Oct. 26, 2009
The Urban Institute's study, meanwhile, has found the cameras are not without their problems. When they automatically pan areas, they may capture only portions of a sequence of events. At night and during bad weather, they might not capture images strong enough for evidence. They are sometimes targeted by vandals. And their maintenance costs can be high. Atlanta has estimated its annual personnel and maintenance cost at $3.2 million for its proposed network.
"A Closer Look at the Uninsured," National Review Online, Oct. 26, 2009
A recent KCMU study conducted by Urban Institute researchers Jack Hadley, John Holahan, Teresa Coughlin, and Dawn Miller estimated that in 2008, uncompensated care represented nearly two-thirds of the dollar amount of all uninsured care. But the same study also found that uncompensated care accounted for only 2.2 percent of America's total health-care spending. "Between 1986 and 2005," it noted, "the share of [hospital] expenses going to uncompensated care remained remarkably steady, with a mean of 6 percent and a range from 6.4 percent in 1986 to 5.4 percent in 2002."
"Economists give mixed reviews of NJ tax plans," Associated Press, Oct. 24, 2009
Kim Rueben, a public finance economist at the Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, said that when resources are scarce, it makes sense to concentrate aid toward those who need it most.
"65 and Up and Looking for Work," New York Times, Oct. 23, 2009
While Social Security keeps most seniors above the poverty line, there are a substantial number near poverty "who are just getting by," said Richard W. Johnson, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute.
"Is Homebuyer Credit Worth An Extension?" Investor's Business Daily, Oct. 22, 2009
Stricter underwriting policies will keep most of the riskiest applicants from buying homes, with or without the tax credit. But [Roberton] Williams of the Tax Policy Center worries about the "borderline" people who would only be able to afford a down payment with the $8,000 tax credit. "Are they going to be able to handle homeownership? To the extent the credit encourages people on the edge to buy, it might not be the best thing," he said.
"Stop age discrimination," USA Today, Oct. 22, 2009
A recent study by the Urban Institute, looking at people who bought coverage on their own, found that reducing the discriminatory practice, known as age rating, benefits older adults more than it hurts the young.
The reason is that under health reform, younger people with modest incomes would qualify for subsidies that will help offset increases in their premiums. The study further found that stricter limits on age rating would lower the overall cost of health care reform by billions of dollars, something that would help all Americans.
"The State of Estate Taxes," The New York Times, Economix blog, Oct. 22, 2009
In 2009, less than one-quarter of 1 percent of people who die will leave estates big enough for the federal government to tax, according to Roberton Williams at the Tax Policy Center. That's the smallest percentage in at least 75 years, and it will soon drop to zero.
"The status quo no Rx for reform," San Antonio Express-News, Oct. 22, 2009
And what will happen over the next 10 years if we repeat the error of past decades and do nothing about rising health insurance costs and declining coverage? A new Urban Institute report breaks down what it will cost those fortunate families who manage to keep their coverage over the next 10 years.
In Texas, the report states, employer premiums will rise by 86 percent, family premiums by 57.9 percent and the proportion of uninsured Texans will continue to approach one-third and exceed 7.2 million people by 2019 — fully one in eight of all uninsured Americans.
"Like it or not, here comes more stimulus," CNNMoney.com, Oct. 21, 2009
A hiring credit was put in place during the Carter administration and the consensus among researchers is that two-thirds of the 2.1 million jobs created by the credit would have been created without it, according to a post on Tax Vox, a blog of the Tax Policy Center edited by Howard Gleckman.
"Federal Revenue at Lowest Share of G.D.P. Since 1950," The New York Times, Economix blog, Oct. 21, 2009
As Roberton Williams wrote on the TaxVox blog on Monday, federal revenue is especially low this year for three main reasons: tax cuts in this year's economic stimulus, the collapse of the economy (which means people and companies earn less money, and therefore pay less in taxes), and the Bush tax cuts from earlier this decade.
"More Reasons to Doubt the Baucus Mandate," The New York Times, Oct. 20. 2009
"Systems in which the employer that doesn't provide health insurance has to pay a set fee of X dollars or Y percent of payroll to the subsidy-granting entity or to the exchange … are fairly simple kinds of payments to work out and aren't particularly intrusive," said Robert Reischauer, president of the Urban Institute and a former Congressional Budget Office director, at a briefing sponsored by the Center. But, he added, "When we think of going down to the individual level, which is in effect what the [free-rider] proposal would do, it gets administratively horrendously complex as well as quite intrusive."
"The costs to society and the state of capital punishment are too high to justify," The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 19, 2009
An Urban Institute study in Maryland last year estimated that a death penalty case costs the state almost $2 million more than a non-death penalty case. At every step -- investigation, trial, appeals and incarceration -- the price is notably higher when a defendant's life is at stake. Ohio, as of Sept. 23, had 166 inmates on death row.
"More Colorado children living in poverty," The Denver Post, Oct. 18, 2009
Economist Harry Holzer of the Washington-based Urban Institute and Georgetown University said research on what he calls economic mobility — the ability of one generation to surpass the financial status of the previous one — finds reality often falls short of the dream.
He is convinced the problem is partly societal barriers — like bad schools in bad neighborhoods — and partly lack of initiative and failure of will. Mostly, Holzer believes, it's a little of both.
"If you grow up in a neighborhood where you don't see any guys making it, nobody's going to college, it's pretty easy to develop the attitude that 'there's nothing out there for me,' " he said.
"Insuring young adults takes center stage in health care debate," The Mercury News, Oct. 17, 2009
While 31 percent of young adults (ages 19-29) have no insurance, only 17 percent of adults ages 30-64 are uninsured. Young adults comprise about 18 percent of the adult population but make up 28 percent of the overall uninsured adult population, according to the Urban Institute.
"Don't Cut The Payroll Tax," Forbes, Oct. 16, 2009
Much of the payroll tax cut will accrue to those with high incomes since there isn't any practical way of limiting the payroll cut just to those with low incomes. According to data from the Tax Policy Center, the wealthiest 40% of households now pay just over two-thirds of all Social Security taxes; consequently, they would reap two-thirds of the benefits of a cut in the Social Security tax rate. And the wealthy would be even more likely to save any increase in take-home pay. Ordinarily, that would be good, but what the economy really needs right now is spending. Increased saving under current economic conditions is, unfortunately, a drag on growth.
"An ailing picture of health care in Texas," Houston Chronicle, Oct. 15, 2009
Not only does the Lone Star State lead the nation in its uninsured population, adults and children alike, but the percentage of residents without health coverage could balloon from 27.5 percent to as much as one-third of the population in the next 10 years, a new study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute predicts.
"Nest Egg Rebound: Surging Stocks Lift 401(k) Accounts," ABCNews.com, Oct. 15, 2009
About $2.7 trillion was lost in 401(k) and individual retirement accounts between September 2007 and May of 2009, according to the Urban Institute, a Washington-based independent research group.
That level of investment loss won't be recovered any time soon and economic uncertainty portends a difficult future for many 401(k) accounts, financial experts say.
"Bureaucratic Activism in Nevada: Regulating child care out of financial reach," Las Vegas Review-Journal, Oct. 15, 2009
For low-income parents especially, according to the Urban Institute's groundbreaking National Child Care Survey, quality most often had to do with whether providers are warm and loving, reliable and experienced with children. Highest quality, here, often means a trusted relative.
"U.S. tax evaders face a tough choice," Marketplace, Oct. 14, 2009
People are supposed to report offshore accounts containing more than $10,000. And pay taxes on the income. If they get caught, they can pay millions in back taxes and fines. Roberton Williams of the Tax Policy Center says coming clean has its complications too.
"Then the IRS can open up your books for anything else and they talk to you about how did you find out about these, these accounts. Who was the broker that alerted you to this or what friends told you about it?"
"Tax good, spend bad," MarketWatch, Oct. 13, 2009
Corporate income tax as a share of gross domestic product has fallen from 6% in 1951 to about 2% last year, according to the Tax Policy Center. The decline is mostly due to a shrinking corporate tax rate. The top corporate rate has fallen from 52.8% as recently as 1969 to 35% last year, according to the World Tax Database.
"Latest health reform bill to address insurance 'age rating'," Minnesota Public Radio, Oct. 13, 2009
Linda Blumberg: "For those who are just over that subsidy-eligibility range, those that wouldn't be offered a full premium out of pocket we need to worry about them, especially the older under these big 4 to 1 rating bands."
"Baby boomer retirement: The news gets worse," Boomer Market Advisor, Oct. 12, 2009
Baby boomers are tragically unprepared for financing their health and long-term care costs as they age. And some important new studies show their circumstances may be much worse in the wake of recent carnage in both the economy and financial markets. So writes Howard Gleckman, a senior research associate at the Urban Institute, in Kaiser Health News.
"Sunday Forum: Health-care reform: the cost of inaction," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Oct. 12, 2009
Bowen Garrett, John Holahan, Lan Doan and Irene Headen: "In an Oct. 1 paper, we looked at all 50 states to quantify the impact on insurance coverage and spending by government, employers and families if health reforms are not enacted. The report makes clear that the cost of failure would be substantial and felt across the country. Over the next decade in every state, the percentage of the population that is uninsured will increase, employer-sponsored coverage will continue to erode, spending on public programs will balloon, and individual and family out-of-pocket costs could increase by more than 35 percent."
"Study finds disconnect between healthcare needs and support for reform," Los Angeles Times, Oct. 10, 2009
The study by the Urban Institute identified 20 congressional districts where more than 30% of residents have no health coverage. Eighteen of those districts are in California, Texas or Florida.
"Letter: Get facts straight when talking reform,"Chicago Daily Herald, Oct. 10, 2009
The Urban Institute projects nearly 7 million Americans will lose their health insurance coverage between 2008 and 2010. They further predict if unemployment reaches 10 percent, another 6 million will lose their insurance coverage. It is conceivable that by next year, 57 to 60 million Americans will be uninsured.
"Report: Health bills show some price gaps," USA Today, Oct. 8, 2009
Americans between 55 and 64 could be charged an average of $8,650 a year for insurance under the Finance Committee bill compared with $5,930 under a separate bill approved in July by the Senate health committee, according to a report by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
"Why the CBO's estimates shouldn't count for much," Newsweek, Oct. 8, 2009
Health care legislation is the toughest to score accurately, says Robert Reischauer, former CBO director, because unlike laws that change the tax code or budget new building projects, there's often no data to examine.
"Health Care Subsidies May Feel Like A Tax," Investor's Business Daily, Oct. 7, 2009
Urban Institute senior fellow Eric Toder said that setting a cliff for [health insurance] subsidies at 400% of the poverty level was "peculiar" and could create "a very big work disincentive" for a segment of middle-income workers who aren't offered coverage via the workplace.
He said it is "an iron law" that benefit programs can only achieve two of three desirable goals: provide generous benefits, maintain work incentives and keep the budget cost down.
"Tax credit plan criticized here," The Courier (Findlay, Ohio), Oct. 7, 2009
The federal government last tried a job creation tax credit in 1977 and 1978 to boost hiring after the 1973-75 recession. Tax credits were awarded for 2.1 million jobs created, but two-thirds of those hirings would have occurred without the credit, said Howard Gleckman, a senior research associate at the Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.
"The bang for the buck (from a job creation tax credit) is pretty low," Gleckman said.
"Courting Drug-Policy Reform: A bipartisan drug policy 20 years in the making?" Newsweek, Oct. 7, 2009
The Urban Institute estimates that when the U.S. spent about half a billion dollars on supervision and treatment for the approximately 55,000 adult nonviolent drug offenders that went through the drug courts in 2005, the courts saved more than $1 billion in reduced prison and law-enforcement costs.
"Minnesotans without health insurance could rise to 655,000 in 10 years, study finds," MinnPost.com, Oct. 6, 2009
"When people are thinking about health care reform, they are comparing it to what they have now," said Bowen Garrett, a senior research associate at the Urban Institute's Health Policy Center and the lead author of the study. "The problem is that what many people have now they are going to lose."
"Check out the real value of libraries," Knoxville News Sentinel, Oct. 4
The institute's study urged communities to redefine the role of the library "from a passive, recreational reading and research institution to an active economic development agent, addressing such pressing urban issues as literacy, workforce training, small business vitality and community quality of life."
"Few options remain to repair Social Security system," Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Oct. 3, 2009
Eric Toder: "The problem is really the government as a whole is in a deficit position. That doesn't mean they won't meet [the social Security] commitment, but the question of how we're going to meet all of our commitments fiscally is kind of up in the air. I don't think that's one they're likely to default on."
"Social Security applications surge amid job losses," Los Angeles Times, Oct. 2, 2009
People have always used early Social Security benefits as a safety net during recessions," said Richard Johnson, a senior fellow with the Urban Institute, a Washington-based research organization. "We've seen that in past recessions and it looks like we're seeing it again."
"Qualifying for unemployment," Bankrate.com, Oct. 2
Typically, only about one-third of jobless receive unemployment insurance checks, but in recessionary times, the percentage pushes higher to about one-half, says Wayne Vroman, economist at the Urban Institute.
"How health care overhaul could change Medicare," Associated Press, Oct. 2
"There's no way to sugarcoat it and say there's no harm here," said Dr. Robert Berenson, a Medicare official during the Clinton administration and a senior fellow at the Urban Institute.
"We're broke ... time for a new tax," CNNMoney.com, Oct. 2
In theory, having a VAT might let lawmakers lower personal and corporate income tax rates. But if the rate of the VAT is set relatively low -- say at 5% -- and if the rate of government spending continues apace, that might not raise enough revenue to make lower income tax rates a possibility, said Rudolph Penner, a former director of the Congressional Budget Office and now an institute fellow at the Urban Institute, a public policy research group. "If we vigorously control spending growth or are willing to tolerate a significant, although lower deficit, there would be something left over for tax cuts," Penner said.
"How Teachers Unions Lost the Media," Wall Street Journal, Oct. 2
Of course, in the past it was difficult to measure teacher performance. But now, as a result of data collected under No Child Left Behind provisions, it is easier to figure out which teachers are succeeding. "Data and results are challenging an industry that was traditionally driven by hope, hype and good intentions," says Jane Hannaway, the director of education policy at the Urban Institute. Ms. Hannaway argues that in the long run these emerging databases may be the most important dividend of today's school accountability policies.
"Social Security collectors up 19%," USA Today, Oct. 1
"There are just not enough jobs for older people," says Richard Johnson, senior fellow at the non-partisan Urban Institute. "They have no choice but to go on Social Security."
September 2009
"Reports predict increasing financial burden from health care," Gannett News Service, Sept. 30
New York's Medicaid program will experience a financial crisis if Congress doesn't enact health care legislation, according to two studies released Wednesday. Ten years from now, state officials could face a 93 percent rise in the cost of providing Medicaid services to adults and related health services to children from low-income families, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute predict in one report.
"47% will pay no federal income tax," CNNMoney.com, Sept. 30
In 2009, roughly 47% of households, or 71 million, will not owe any federal income tax, according to estimates by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center… When considering federal income taxes in combination with payroll taxes, the percent of households with a net liability of zero or less is estimated to be 24% this year, according to the Tax Policy Center's estimates.
"Study: Cost higher if health reform fails, study says," Houston Chronicle, Sept. 29
"People worry about losing what they have now, but they need to remember that what they have now is likely to change," said Bowen Garrett, a senior researcher with the Urban Institute's health policy center, which conducted the study for the foundation. "Many who have employee-sponsored insurance will lose it as health care costs go up, and those fortunate enough to keep their plans will pay higher out-of-pocket costs or earn smaller wages as employers decide whether to cut on wages or benefits."
"D.C. Data On Poverty Grim but Unchanged," The Washington Post, Sept. 29
"For 2008, the recession was a bit slower to impact our region than the rest of the country," said Peter Tatian of the Urban Institute. "But within the metro area, you're going to see a lot more hardship than you would looking at the average."
"‘Young Invincibles' Have Stake In Health Debate," National Public Radio, Sept. 27
Genevieve Kenney: "When someone turns 19, they are much less likely to qualify for publicly subsidized coverage, or they're no longer full-time students and can't qualify under their parents' plans in many places. So kids lose both private and public coverage when they turn 19."
"Study shows Minnesota has a lot to lose if efforts at federal health care reform fail; Report focuses on cost of doing nothing about health care," Pioneer Press, Sept. 29, 2009
"People may think they have health coverage now and that they're happy with it. The problem is, the status quo is changing," said Bowen Garrett, a senior research associate with the Urban Institute who led the study. "Many people who have coverage through their employers now may lose that coverage. Those that continue to have coverage will pay more out of pocket."
"On Medicare Spending, a Role Reversal; Republicans, Not Interest Groups, Fight Plans to Cut $400 Billion Over 10 Years," The Washington Post, Sept. 28, 2009
There's an imperative to bend the curve faster than it's probably possible to do in a democratic society," said Urban Institute President Robert Reischauer, a former CBO director. "We're starting down the correct paths . . . but at any point Congress could act to halt our travel down those paths. For the next few years, there's a great degree of uncertainty about all of this."
"'Young Invincibles' Have Stake In Health Debate," NPR, Sept. 27, 2009
Genevieve Kenney: There are some higher-income young adults who are in good health who don't see the value in purchasing health insurance coverage. But I think many of the young adults who are uninsured don't have the financial wherewithal to really pay much for coverage.
"Cleveland County's unemployment rate drops," Shelby Star (Cleveland County, N.C.), Sept. 25, 2009
The rise in unemployment for older workers is partly the result of a mobile work force that hasn't stayed with a single employer for long periods of time as in the past, said Richard Johnson, a senior fellow at The Urban Institute in Washington.
"What seemed to protect older workers in the past is that they had a lot of seniority," Johnson said. "Now there is much more churning going on with these older workers. Even though they're older and experienced, they haven't been with the employer for very long."
"Medical gear makers howl at push for tax; Say plan to fund health bill could cost jobs in Mass.," Boston Globe, Sept. 25, 2009
"There's always going to be a constituency out there that will oppose any revenue-raising tool if it's going to come out of their pocket,'" said Linda J. Blumberg, senior fellow for health policy at the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan policy research group in Washington. "That doesn't mean it's a bad tool. If you're trying to make health care more affordable for everyone, you can't do that without raising money."
"Ideas to bolster southern Dallas groceries," Dallas Morning News, Sept. 24, 2009
A new study out of Washington promotes taxing foods with high fat and low nutritional value. The think tank behind the study, the Urban Institute, and pundits suggest the tax would help drive down cost in a couple of ways:
Last year, $200 billion – 9 percent of all health care costs – was spent on health care related to obesity. And a "fat-foods tax" would generate $500 billion over 10 years and help cover the projected $1 trillion anticipated cost of health care reform.
"Going Red Over Health Care," RealClearPolitics.com, Sept. 24, 2009
Lack of health insurance "is not a nationally uniform problem," says Steve Zuckerman, senior fellow at the Urban Institute and an expert on Medicaid. Because there has to be a greater improvement in coverage in the South and West, Zuckerman says, "there will be a geographic redistribution."
The low rates of coverage in the South and West result from low rates of employer-based insurance, Zuckerman says. Meanwhile, these states are also less likely to have tried to close the gap with Medicaid. They historically have imposed tight income restraints and other eligibility barriers to the joint federal-state program for low-income people.
"Home Health Aide Shortage Looms, Experts Warn; Job more dangerous than mining coal," Consumeraffairs.com, Sept. 22, 2009
"It's more dangerous to be a home health aide than it is to be a coal miner," said Howard Gleckman, senior research associate at the Urban Institute.
Gleckman cited Bureau of Labor Statistics figures that show the injury rate for coal miners is 3.6 per 100 workers. The official injury rate is 4.1 for home health aides.
"Panelists Discuss Reforming System for Low-Income Taxpayers," Tax Notes, September 21
Elaine Maag, a research associate with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, said the complexity of the tax code "likely contributes to the fact that roughly half of all taxpayers use a paid preparer to assist them in filing returns." Among low-income families with children, that proportion rises to two-thirds, Maag said.
A frequent subject of various reform proposals has been consolidation of several child and work support tax credits that have different eligibility and income restrictions, Maag said, adding, "Low-income families find themselves in a maze of credits and deductions, and it's not clear that the overall shape we end up with is the most desirable outcome."
"Medicaid Expansion Would Guarantee Coverage, Not Care," The Washington Independent, Sept. 22, 2009
Medicaid payments, despite a 15 percent increase between 2003 and 2008, represent just 72 percent of what Medicare pays for the same services, researchers at the Urban Institute reported in April.
"School of hard shocks: Do all kids need college today?" Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sept. 21, 2009
"We have evolved into this highly academic-based system for all students," said Robert Lerman. "We only have a modest number of alternative routes."
"Retirement? Good luck with that," MarketWatch.com, Sept. 21, 2009
Looking at all types of tax-advantaged retirement plans, people with income above $104,000 enjoy 80% of the tax breaks, according to research co-authored by Eric Toder of the Urban Institute.
"Finally, a health care bill to talk about," San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 20, 2009
About 10 million Americans between the ages of 19 and 26 lack health insurance, according to the Urban Institute.
"What is so Great about Private Insurers," Associated Press, Sept. 20, 2009
"Right now, there's no incentive for insurers or big hospital groups to negotiate with each other, because they can pass higher payments on through premiums," said economist Linda Blumberg, co-author of the report. "A public plan would have the leverage to set lower payment rates and get providers to participate at those rates."
"Early Education Issues Return to Spotlight," Education Week, Sept. 18, 2009
"The poverty statistics, to me, highlight how enormous the needs are, the vulnerability of kids," said Olivia Golden, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Urban Institute, who spoke at the conference, which brought together teams of state education, health, and human services officials. "And the states are mostly dealing with extremely difficult budgets."
"Should Everyone Go to College?" Inside Higher Ed, Sept. 18
Robert Lerman: "I think we need to diversify the routes to rewarding careers and that's because we have differences in the world and we have differences in the nature of jobs, we have differences in the nature of learning styles and we have differences in the nature of motivation."
"Early Education Issues Return to Spotlight," Education Week, Sept. 18
"The poverty statistics, to me, highlight how enormous the needs are, the vulnerability of kids," said Olivia Golden, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Urban Institute, who spoke at the conference, which brought together teams of state education, health, and human services officials. "And the states are mostly dealing with extremely difficult budgets."
"Baucus and the Threshold," New York Times, Sept. 17
And right here in America, we have the example of the Massachusetts health reform, many of whose features are echoed in the Baucus plan. The Massachusetts system, introduced three years ago, has many problems. But as a new report from the Urban Institute puts it, it "has accomplished much of what it set out to do: Nearly all adults in the state have health insurance."
"When Work Doesn't Pay For The Middle Class," Forbes, Sept. 16
Rosanne Altshuler, codirector of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, worries that all the tax gotchas could "erode confidence in the system, and that could lead to a bigger compliance problem."
"CBO: Baucus healthcare plan would cut deficit," Christian Science Monitor, Sept. 16
That healthcare reform could actually save money doesn't surprise some observers. "It's not hard to imagine," says John Holahan, director of the health policy group at the Urban Institute. "You can easily get there."
"Fight in Congress Looms on Tax Break for Home Buyers," New York Times, Sept. 16
On the other side of the issue is the Tax Policy Center, a joint venture of the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute. It labeled the original credit as one of the worst provisions of the stimulus package, on the grounds that the money is a bonus for people who would buy a house anyway. The center has an even dimmer view of extending the credit to all buyers. "Is this the best way to spend money we don't have?" asked senior fellow Roberton Williams.
"Young Adults Likely to Pay Big Share of Reform's Cost," Washington Post, Sept. 16
A 2008 study by the Urban Institute found that more than 10 million young adults ages 19 to 26 lack health insurance coverage. For many of those people, health-care reform would offer the promise of relatively inexpensive individual policies, which do not exist in many states today.
"Mass. Health Connector, other innovations honored," Stateline.org, Sept. 14
"The Commonwealth Connector has been the capstone of health reform in Massachusetts. It is the arch between public and private insurance and it was politically instrumental in bridging liberal and conservative policy goals," said Urban Institute health care expert Randall Bovbjerg, who analyzed the program for Harvard.
"New Endowment Rules Signal Caution for Charities," The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Sept. 14
As a result of the market gyrations of the past year, nearly 15 percent of endowments have lost some of the principal that donors invested, according to the Urban Institute. Also affected by the downturn are quasi-endowments — unrestricted funds designated by a board of directors to function like an endowment. They are resources that organizations may be tempted to liquidate in a crisis.
"Living in a fact-based world of real numbers," St. Petersburg Times, Sept. 13
At PolitiFact.com, the St. Petersburg Times' fact-checking Web site, we love discussions of the nuts and bolts of public policy, so Paul Gary Wyckoff's new book [from the Urban Institute Press],Policy and Evidence in a Partisan Age: The Great Disconnect, easily made it to the top our reading list. Wyckoff believes that actual data doesn't get enough attention in policy debates, usually because people either don't understand or aren't interested in statistical evidence. We rely on anecdotes, theories and case studies to make policy decisions, even when better data exist.
"Number of uninsured fuels part of debate," Gannett News Service, Sept. 12
Republicans say another 10 million uninsured people are eligible for Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program but are not enrolled, according to a 2007 estimate by researchers with the nonpartisan Urban Institute.
"Relief in state health plan sought," The Boston Globe, Sept. 11, 2009
Employer-based health insurance in Massachusetts continued to gain ground in 2008, according to the analysis by the Urban Institute, which was funded by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. The analysis found that more than 70 percent of all adults under age 65 in Massachusetts have insurance through their employers, a gain of nearly 5 percent since the 2006 law went into effect.
"U.S. Poverty Rising, Family Incomes Fall," The Online NewsHour, Sept. 10, 2009
The census data also reveals that some of the more secure subgroups of the U.S. population saw greater rises in poverty in 2008, such as married-couple households and whites, said Greg Acs, a researcher at the Urban Institute. "The situation is already pretty dire for those in need," he said. "But the increase in poverty, the loss in income, is hitting subgroups of the population that have been somewhat insulated before the recession."
"The Young and the Uninsured," Jackson Free Press, Sept. 9, 2009
Reform opponents often portray the uninsured as young and in good health, but the Urban Institute Health Policy Center says the reality is not so simple.
"A health care reform Q&A," The News Journal, Sept. 8, 2009
None of the proposals under consideration should be described as socialized medicine, said Stan Dorn, a senior research associate with the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan public policy institute in Washington, D.C. Each includes the creation of insurance exchanges, which are intended to give Americans more options — nearly all of them through private insurers.
"Overload of bodies fills Tennessee morgues," The Tennessean, Sept. 8, 2009
The percentage of people in poverty in the USA is climbing, said Gregory Acs, a senior fellow at The Urban Institute. When the recession started at the end of 2007, about 12.5 percent of the U.S. population was considered impoverished, up from 11.7 percent in 2001.
"The Problem with Consumerism in Health Care, The 30,000 Foot View," Seattle Post Intelligencer, The Health Retort blog, Sept. 8, 2009
A 2009 review by the Urban Institute of how quality in U.S. compares to other countries concluded "U.S. health care is not pre-eminent on quality."
"Health Compromise Floated Before Obama Speech," The New York Times, Sept. 8, 2009
"The idea of a stripped-down benefits package for people who have a good income and choose not to buy health insurance makes a lot of sense," said Stan Dorn, a senior research associate at the Urban Institute. "But a catastrophic insurance policy does not make sense for lower-income people, because they cannot afford medical care short of catastrophic expenses. A catastrophic policy does not cover routine care."
"States: We can't afford costs tied to $5B emergency fund," USA Today, Sept. 8, 2009
Harry Holzer, an economist at the Urban Institute and a professor of public policy at Georgetown University, said funding programs for food stamp and welfare recipients is one of the best ways to stimulate the economy. "We know that virtually 100% of this money is going to be spent, and spent quickly," Holzer said.
"Will safety net hospitals survive health reform?" Associated Press, Sept. 7, 2009
Safety net hospitals may need help raising money to spruce up and modernize to become more competitive with private hospitals, [Steve] Zuckerman said. But they won't disappear. "The capacity they provide to the system is going to be needed," Zuckerman said. "I don't think the rest of the system is ready to absorb the patient population the public hospitals now serve."
"Obama Ready to Stress Areas of Health Agreement," CQ Politics, Sept. 6, 2009
A recent Urban Institute analysis projects the uninsured population could swell as high as 57.7 million by 2014 and 65.7 million by 2019 if health costs continue to outpace wage growth. The biggest increase would be among middle-income individuals and families who won't be able to cover out-of-pocket expenses or those who are dropped from employer plans.
"Teenage Jobless Rate Reaches Record High," The New York Times, Sept. 5, 2009
"Maybe the most employable kids pull out of the labor force, making the numbers for what percent of kids are looking for jobs appear even worse," said Harry J. Holzer, an economist at Georgetown University and the Urban Institute.
"401k contribution limits face potential fall," Associated Press, Sept. 4
About $2.7 trillion was lost in 401(k) and individual retirement accounts between September 2007 and May of 2009, says the Urban Institute, a Washington-based independent research group.
"Let's reset the tone in the healthcare debate," Miami Herald, Sept. 4
Regardless of the divisive tone, Congress and the administration cannot afford to get sidetracked. More than one out of seven Americans do not have health insurance. In the absence of meaningful near-term reform, the Urban Institute estimates that an additional 20 million Americans could be without health insurance by 2019. Every day that goes by without action creates more uncertainty, fear and risk.
"Obama moves to retake health care debate," USA Today, Sept. 3
"This obviously is a make or break moment," said Robert Reischauer, president of the non-partisan Urban Institute. "It's time for him to stand up and say, 'There are no easy answers, and these are the choices I want you to make.'"
"Layoffs toughest on workers young, older," Associated Press, Sept. 3
The rise in unemployment for older workers is partly the result of a mobile work force that hasn't stayed with a single employer for long periods of time as in the past, said Richard Johnson, a senior fellow at The Urban Institute in Washington. "What seemed to protect older workers in the past is that they had a lot of seniority," Johnson said. "Now there is much more churning going on with these older workers. Even though they're older and experienced, they haven't been with the employer for very long."
"The Fix Is In," slate.com, Sept. 2
Since 1992, Medicare has depended almost entirely on the American Medical Association for guidance on how relative values should be set. In a devastating critique published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, scholars from the Urban Institute and the University of California-San Francisco explained that Medicare uncritically accepted 95 percent of the AMA's recommendations, which are formulated by the group's Relative Value Scale Update Committee, or RUC.
August 2009
"Boomers Take a Step Back Down the Career Ladder," usnews.com, Aug. 31
Older workers who change jobs after age 51 typically move out of manager positions and into new jobs with fewer responsibilities, less pay, and fewer benefits, according to a recent Urban Institute and AARP Public Policy Institute analysis.
"Why Seniors Are Health Reform Winners, Not Losers," Kaiser Health News, Aug. 31
Howard Gleckman: "But, in truth, seniors are likely to be big winners if responsible health reform passes and prime victims if it fails. The casualties will not only be today's elders, but the Baby Boomers, who are the next generation of seniors. They will all pay the price if the existing health system is allowed to fester."
"Local Heroes: Community Economic Development," New York Times, Economix blog, Aug. 31
It's difficult to measure the success of specific efforts. But in a close look at five cities, an Urban Institute study found that nonprofit community development corporations led to an overall improvement in property values, and pointed to two cities — Denver and Portland — where the results were borne out by econometric analysis.
"Health care: Young people lack insurance, but also interest in doing something about it," Chicago Tribune, Aug. 30
"I think many more uninsured young adults stand to gain from health care reform than stand to lose," [Genevieve] Kenney said, citing plans in Congress to provide subsidies for low-income people — many of whom are young — to purchase insurance.
"Insurers Poised To Gain From Health Care Reform," Hartford Courant, Aug. 30
"They [health insurers] could do very well. What's being proposed is universal or near-universal health care coverage provided through private health insurance plans," said Linda Blumberg, a health policy analyst at the nonpartisan Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. "It would give them a stable pool of insured with less turnover and potentially more enrollees."
"Don't settle for triage," Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, Aug. 30
The Urban Institute released a study this month that found the U.S. performed better than other advanced nations in some areas [of health care] and worse than in others. The study noted that only 45 percent of Americans thought the U.S. had the world's best health care."
"It's Hard to Worry About a Deficit 10 Years Out," New York Times, Aug. 28
Mr. [Roberton] Williams argues that, eventually, President Obama's vow not to raise taxes on the middle class is going to have to be violated. "There is just not enough money" earned by the very, very rich, Mr. Williams said.
"All about that public option," The Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), Aug. 27
In fact, a study by another public policy institute, the Urban Institute, says that taxpayers would save between $224 billion and $400 billion over 10 years with a public option.
"Cooperatives' Record Weighed in Health-Care Debate," The Washington Post, Aug. 27, 2009
"Robert D. Reischauer, president of the Urban Institute and former director of the Congressional Budget Office, said rural electric cooperatives aren't a good model for health insurance regardless of their track record.
'Those were providing a service where no private enterprise wanted to operate because the population density was too low and the capital costs were too high,' he said. 'And what we're talking about is trying to create a viable insurer that would operate in metropolitan areas and rural areas and suburban areas.'"
"Are higher taxes inevitable?", Christian Science Monitor, Aug. 26, 2009
"In this climate, some policy analysts say it will be a crisis — such as a sharp drop in the dollar or a spike in interest rates — that prompts Washington to confront the fiscal challenge.
'I'm fairly confident that will happen. I just can't say when,' says Eric Toder of the Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan research group."
"Culver to hire government efficiency firm," Des Moines Register, Aug. 25, 2009
Kim Rueben, a policy finance economist at the Urban Institute, said it is difficult to compare differences in how state leaders go about cutting budgets in tough times.
"A lot of what happens is going to depend on what's going on in the state at the time," she said. "But one thing is clear: There is no easy answer this year. It's a really different climate. All states have been through recessions before, but most have never experienced anything of the magnitude of what we're seeing now."
"Why is health care reform a financial issue?", Examiner.com, Aug. 24, 2009
Job loss due to the recession is a major contributor to the growing ranks of the uninsured. The Urban Institute estimates that the number of uninsured could grow to as many as 66 million American by the year 2019.
"Competition lacking among private health insurers," The Associated Press, Aug. 23, 2009
A study by the Urban Institute public policy center estimated that a public plan could save taxpayers from $224 billion to $400 billion over 10 years by lowering the cost of proposed subsidies for the uninsured, while preserving private coverage for most people.
"With no budget, Connecticut's sales tax holiday makes no sense," Connecticut Post, Aug. 18, 2009
Kim Rueben, an economist with the Urban and Brookings Institute's Tax Policy Center, thinks that for consumers with tight household budgets, sales-tax holidays may make it more likely that they will "shift their purchases to these tax-free days. When you are feeling wealthier, you are less concerned about the timing of when you make these purchases."
"Soda makers: Don't tax our soft drinks," USA Today, Aug. 17, 2009
Stan Dorn: "If you want to eat food that makes you obese, that's your right," but you should help pay the societal costs.
"Illegal Immigration Enters the Health-Care Debate," The Wall Street Journal, Aug. 15, 2009
"The role illegal immigrants play in U.S. health-care costs is 'one hot button that no one wants to touch," says Stephen Zuckerman, an economist at the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington.
"Hispanics in New Orleans are hurting for health care," The Times-Picayune, Aug. 15, 2009
According to an analysis of 2008 census data by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Urban Institute, Hispanics comprise 15 percent of the population but make up 32 percent of the total uninsured population in the United States. And health officials say such numbers ring true in New Orleans.
"Why the rancor of health care debate," The Buffalo News, Aug. 15, 2009
"46.5 million Americans have no insurance — a number that's growing by more than 15,000 a day, according to a calculation by Urban Institute health care scholar John Holahan."
"The Last Taboo," Kaiser Health News, Aug. 14, 2009
Howard Gleckman: "There is, of course, one aging issue in the health reform debate that has generated plenty of attention: the bizarre fight over whether Medicare should pay for end-of-life counseling. A seemingly innocuous proposal for reimbursing doctors for their time has become, to some at least, a step toward government 'death panels' that will decide whether our parents live or die."
"Stop distortion: There's no 'death panel'," Des Moines Register, August 14, 2009
More living wills could help prevent spending on care patients don't want — and save health dollars. "A 5 percent reduction in end-of-life costs would save Medicare 1.25 percent. This would amount to $6.4 billion in 2010 and $90.8 billion over 10 years," according to a study by the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan research center.
"Is America Through the Worst of the Recession?" Washington Post, August 13, 2009
Rudolph Penner: "People are likely to remain unhappy until we reach past peaks in economic activity and employment. That will take a very long time: The unemployment rate will probably remain well above 9 percent all the way to the 2010 midterm elections."
"End-of-Life Debate," CBS Evening News, August 13, 2009
Robert Berenson: "Patients often get much more care than they actually want at the end of life."
"End-of-life care is a touchy subject," Marketplace, August 13, 2009
Robert Berenson: "The way it's been distorted into death panels, government bureaucrats deciding who should live or die, is a complete fabrication."
"Studies Weigh NCLB's Broad Impact," Education Week, August 13, 2009
[NO LINK]
State-level implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act has changed how education is delivered and to whom, researchers have found. Still, they say, it's difficult in some cases to measure which changes can be attributed solely to the law. The researchers presented their findings at a conference hosted yesterday by the Washington-based Urban Institute's National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research. They studied state implementation of the landmark federal education law and its impact on student achievement, teacher distribution and quality, and the teaching of subjects not covered in the law, among other topics.
"Congress' dangerous search for more health care 'value'," New York Daily News, August 12, 2009
Many cities are home to large numbers of patients with low incomes, who may not see a doctor regularly or at all. For these patients, health problems often are not identified early when they can be easily treated. The Urban Institute found that many low-income people seek regular medical care only when they are old enough to get coverage through Medicare. By then, their health problems may be entrenched and much more expensive to treat.
"How many Americans are uninsured?" Associated Press, August 11, 2009
Taking into account the effects of the recession, with widespread job losses cutting into employer-provided health care — more than 5 million jobs have been lost since last August — researchers at the Urban Institute and elsewhere estimate that the present-day number of uninsured is closer to 50 million. That's the number used by the Congressional Budget Office.
"Clouds Over Bermuda's Island Tax Haven," businessweek.com, August 11, 2009
In the past three months, companies such as Tyco (TYC), Accenture (ACN), Ingersoll-Rand (IR), and Cooper Industries (CBE), have moved—or made plans to move—their incorporation from Bermuda to other locales such as Ireland and Switzerland. 'These firms are facing a lot of uncertainty and are very worried about the legislation that may come out of Washington,' says Rosanne Altshuler, co-director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center."
"Reforming in a Whirlwind," governing.com (Governing magazine), August 11, 2009
There's a problem with most of the books on social services written by top scholars and published by respected think tanks. Most of the time, they're a deadly combination of boring and out of date—even if they might be important contributions to scholarly research. Which is why it was such a pleasure to open Reforming Child Welfare by Olivia Golden, just published by the Urban Institute. The book is not only timely and topical, but eminently readable.
"Soaring deficit may defy forecasts," USA Today, August 11, 2009
Former CBO director Robert Reischauer, president of the non-partisan Urban Institute, an economics and social policy think tank, says administrations tend to believe that "he harder and faster one falls, the more rapid and steep the recovery."
"Thousands of California Elders Losing Long-Term Care," New America Media, August 10, 2009
"Despite much progress, home and community services [for the elderly] remains badly underfunded in many states," said Howard Gleckman, a senior researcher at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C., and author of Caring for Our Parents. "Many states have long waiting lists, others offer such limited care that it doesn't work for many people," he said.
"An alternative for training our teachers," News & Record (Greensboro, N.C.), August 9, 2009
A study conducted by the Urban Institute and the Calder Center on the effectiveness of Teach for America concludes that "TFA teachers are more effective, as measured by student exam performance, than traditional teachers." The TFA effect, the authors conclude, "exceeds the impact of additional years of experience" obtained by the traditionally educated and trained teachers to whom TFA teachers were compared. The study was conducted at high schools in North Carolina.
"Sometimes, the smart decision is to bite the bullet," Edmonton Sun, August 8, 2009
"Obesity," argue the authors of the Urban Institute's report, "is widely recognized as one of the country's leading public health problems. The obese and overweight experience chronic illness, poor health, and more than 100,000 preventable deaths each year. For the average affected individual, obesity has a much greater impact on health status and health care costs than either smoking or heavy drinking."
"Stimulus money to fight obesity a waste," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 8, 2009
The Urban Institute and the University of Virginia released a July report advocating the aggressive tactics that cut the U.S. cigarette smoking rate by more than half: excise taxes on junk food; graphic nutrition and caloric product labeling; and restrictions on advertising and marketing.
"Democrats Wrestle Over Chances of a Public Option," Washington Post, August 6, 2009
Many experts, such as Linda Blumberg and John Holahan at the Urban Institute, say a public plan is essential to fiscal responsibility in a country where health-care spending has soared to $2.4 trillion per year. A public option such as that proposed by House Democrats, with prices initially set at 5 percent above Medicare rates but well below private insurer rates, would inject competition into markets that are now oligopolies: An American Medical Association study found that a single insurer controls more than half the market in 16 states and a third of it in 38 states.
"Cameras credited with arrests in 2 crimes," Baltimore Sun, August 4, 2009
"altimore is using cameras in a way that a lot of other jurisdictions are not, by using them pro-actively, especially in the downtown areas where they have monitors watching cameras almost 24-7,"said Nancy La Vigne, a senior researcher with the Urban Institute. "It's not just a technology that sits."
"Heavy cost of obesity," Post and Courier (Charleston, S.C.), August 4, 2009
The Urban Institute and University of Virginia study found that a 10 percent excise or sales tax on 'fattening foods' could raise $522 billion over the next 10 years. The tax not only would raise money for health care, but could provide some degree of disincentive for buying junk food, just as it has for tobacco.
"5 ways to prepare for an unplanned retirement," U.S. News, August 3, 2009
According to an Urban Institute and AARP Public Policy Institute analysis, when older employees switch jobs, their median hourly wage drops from $16.86 at the old job (in 2007 dollars) to $10.86 at the new job.
"Desperately seeking a health-care cure," The Seattle Times, August 2, 2009
"I think a lot of these issues are not well understood, and when you don't understand something, you're more susceptible to interest-group pressures," said
John Holahan, the director of the Urban Institute Health Policy Research Center.
"Editorial: The value of the neighborhood," Los Angeles Times, August 1, 2009
Although housing discrimination persists, it dropped significantly during the 1990s, according to the Urban Institute.
Latest Research
Browse by Topic:
