Plan to Cut Health Care Spending
March 10, 2009 | Terry Sharrer
The Commonwealth Fund of New York has posted its plan for a National Health Insurance Exchange-similar in approach to the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program-that, if implemented nation-wide, would cut spending growth (note: not spending, but spending growth) by $4T through 2020. Some of its ideas include a one cent tax on sugar-sweetened soft drinks to finance state obesity prevention programs, and a $2 per pack tax increase on cigarettes to promote public health programs and insurance expansion. [Too bad the Commonwealth Fund didn’t consider medical automation for cost containment]. It’s an interesting read. SEE