Publications -- Special Publications

The NCPA occasionally produces special publications, such as Briefing Books, Conference Proceedings and Copublications with other institutes. Studies by NCPA scholars published elsewhere are included by permission.

Nov 02, 2009

Expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program

On October 3, President Bush vetoed a bill passed by Congress to expand funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by $35 billion, paid for with a $0.61 tax on cigarettes.  The House passed the bill by a vote of 265-159 and it passed 67-29 in the Senate. 

Aug 19, 2009

Congressional Brief: Health Care

To confront America's health care crisis, we do not need more spending, more regulations or more bureaucracy. We do need people, however, including every doctor and every patient. All 300 million Americans must be free to use their intelligence, their creativity and their innovative ability to make the changes needed to create access to low-cost, high-quality health care.

Jul 29, 2009

Perspectives on the Geographic Variation in Health Care Spending

Health care reform is definitely at the top of the domestic policy agenda. But before we move ahead on significant changes in the health care markets in the United States, it is critical that we flesh out our understanding of one of the leading rationales for reform. The argument goes something like this. Health care spending varies dramatically from region to region without producing commensurate variation in health outcomes. Indeed, higher health care spending per capita is not consistently associated with better health outcomes. The observed disconnect between health care spending and outcomes suggests that through a more efficient use of health resources, spending could be cut substantially.

Apr 23, 2009

The Role of Health Care Spending in Projecting Federal Elderly Entitlement Spending

Spending on Medicare and Social Security is expected to grow considerably in coming years, commanding an increasing share of the nation's output. This study begins by comparing the long-run forecasts for Medicare and Social Security made by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the forecasts presented in the respective trustees' reports.

Apr 14, 2009

Congressional Brief

To confront America's health care crisis, we do not need more spending, more regulations or more bureaucracy. We do need people, however, including every doctor and every patient. All 300 million Americans must be free to use their intelligence, their creativity and their innovative ability to make the changes needed to create access to low-cost, high-quality health care.

Mar 10, 2009

Health Care Reform: Do Other Countries Have the Answers?

Although national health insurance has considerable support within the medical profession, the degree to which patient empowerment, individual choice, competition, and market incentives are being consciously and successfully used to solve health care problems is far more extensive than is commonly realized.

Feb 02, 2009

Ten Ways to Trim Your Health Care Costs

The one expenditure that a lot of people assume they have little or no control over is health care costs. Yet, a little common sense and a healthy dose of consumerism can reward savvy shoppers with significant savings without sacrificing care.

Feb 02, 2009

Economic Stimulus - The Right Way

Rather than a one- or two-year stimulus package, we should be looking for permanent
fiscal changes that turn the economy around in a lasting way.

Feb 02, 2009

Stimulus or Pork?

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports that only 7% of the stimulus spending in the House-passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (approx. $358 billion of the total) will be spent this year. By the end of 2010, only 38% will be spent. And by the end of 2011 only 67% will be spent. Including both tax cuts and stimulus checks, only one fifth of the total package will be spent in 2009.

Dec 11, 2008

Obama Health Plan

President-elect Obama has appointed Jeanne Lambrew as Deputy Director of the newly formed White House Office for Health Reform. In this position, Dr. Lambrew will be a major force in shaping health care policy for the Obama Administration. Foreshadowing the national policy debate to come about the Obama Administration's health policy, NCPA President John C. Goodman recently debated the pros and cons of various health care reform options with Dr. Lambrew.