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.
And now, tax issues Adding a new area of law to the list of President Trump’s legal issues...
The Asian American voter in OC In Orange County the population is changing. While the numbers of most ethnic groups have grown slowly over the past 10 years, the number of Asian Americans is up 41 percent since 2010. And don't think the politicos haven't noticed. What kind of impact will Asian American voters have on Orange County's representation in Congress? Will they help keep the county Republican, or could they turn Orange County blue?
Can LA County fix its voting issues before November? Election Day is less than five weeks away. Maybe voting will go off without a hitch. But over the past 10 years, elections in Los Angeles County have been marred by problems that have led to a lot of voter confusion at the polls. In the first of a two part series, KCRW’s Saul Gonzalez looks at recent breakdowns in L.A. County’s elections, and how election officials plan to solve them with a massive election modernization program.