Briefings
	Past Briefings

	Updated Toolkit -- Budget Reconciliation and Health Reform The next steps for health reform legislation likely will include an attempt to pass fixes to the Senate health reform bill through budget reconciliation. A newly updated toolkit from the Alliance for Health Reform explains briefly how reconciliation works, and offers links to resources that go into more detail on subjects such as the “Byrd rule” and the important role of the Senate parliamentarian. To download, click here. Read More

	Issue Brief -- Rural Health and Health Reform Health care delivery poses unique challenges in rural communities. Provider shortages are particularly acute. Unemployment rates are higher and private insurance rates are lower in rural areas than elsewhere. Do the health reform bills in Congress adequately address the needs of rural areas? A new issue brief from the Alliance for Health Reform offers some insights. Written by Deanna Okrent, Alliance senior health policy associate, and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. To download, click here. Read More

	Issue Brief -- Ensuring Access to Care If tens of millions of Americans gain health coverage, will the current health system be able to meet the new demand? This four-page issue brief looks at why the nation has a physician shortage, and what can be done to help ensure access to care after health reform. Written by Deanna Okrent of the Alliance and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. To download, click here. Read More

	Better Care - Lower Costs: Exploring the Promise of Patient Engagement Engaging consumers more directly in their care may improve health outcomes and help control the costs of care. This program focused on the potential for changing consumer behavior to promote the use of effective interventions and discourage unnecessary care. Cosponsored by the AARP Public Policy Institute. Read More

	Issue Brief -- Applying Lessons Learned from the 1993-94 Health Reform Failure This week could be make-or-break time for the Obama-era health reform effort. So it seems appropriate to examine what lessons we may have learned from the collapse of reform during the Clinton Administration, and whether those lessons are being applied to today's reform debate. A new issue brief features thoughts on this topic from experts who were actively involved in the 1993-94 reform effort (including Susan Dentzer of Health Affairs, right). Click here to download. Read More