George Mason University / Center for Health Policy Research and Ethics
Len Nichols is director of the Center for Health Policy Research and Ethics and professor of health policy at George Mason University. He formerly directed the Health Policy Program at the New America Foundation.
Healthcare nears the home stretch. Can it make it over the line? Republicans pledged to repeal and replace Obamacare even before it became law seven years ago. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell wanted a vote this week on the latest Republican healthcare bill , which remains highly unpopular -- only one in three Americans support it, only 35 percent of Republicans. Now, the vote has been postponed until Arizona Senator John McCain recovers from surgery to remove a blood clot. In the meantime, opposition to the bill has increased, with key Republican governors, like Arizona's Doug Ducey, expressing concern. We take a look at whether the bill really reflects a Republican vision for the healthcare system.
Enormous Healthcare Rate Hikes for Individual Policies Newly-elected State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones wants Blue Shield of California to delay rate increases of up to 59 percent on health insurance for individuals. First reported last night, the hikes come less than a year since Anthem Blue Cross tried to get 39 percent and settled for up to 20 percent. Individual policy holders include those not covered by employer plans, the self-employed and the unemployed. Len Nichols is Professor of Health Policy at George Mason University.
Another Landmark for Healthcare Reform The hour has arrived for debate on healthcare reform to begin in the US Senate. No Republican voted to bring the bill to the floor, and Majority Leader Harry Reid needed every Democrat and both Independents, including some who said they would not support the bill itself in its present form.
Another Landmark for Healthcare Reform With a House bill already passed and the Senate beginning debate on its version today, healthcare reform is closer to reality than it's been in decades. But it won't be easy. No Republican voted to bring the bill to the floor, and Majority Leader Harry Reid needed every Democrat and both Independents, including some who said they would not support the bill itself in its present form. How many new people would be insured? How soon? Would the premiums be affordable? Would the rising cost of healthcare itself be brought under control? We look at those and other questions facing American families.
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.