Racial and Ethnic Disparities: States and Feds to the Rescue? With a substantial body of evidence showing that racial and ethnic minorities receive poorer quality care than others, state and federal policy makers are looking for ways to reduce disparities. This briefing looked at what states are already doing to help reduce disparities, and what the federal government and the states could do to narrow gaps even more. Cosponsored by The Commonwealth Fund. Read More

	New Issue Brief: Employer-Sponsored Coverage Employer-sponsored coverage rates have been steadily falling, from 68 percent of non-elderly Americans in 2000 to 62 percent in 2006. Experts cite rising premium costs and workforce changes as factors driving the erosion in such coverage. This  new Alliance issue brief, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, offers perspective on why this trend is happening and how alarmed we should be. Written by Lisa Swirsky, senior health policy associate at the Alliance. To download, click here. Read More

	Updated Issues Guide for Cover the Uninsured Week We invite you to read “Health Care Coverage in America: Understanding the Issues and Proposed Solutions,” produced for Cover the Uninsured Week 2008. This 24-page guide, newly updated, provides a readable overview on how Americans get health coverage, why coverage is so important, why so many of us don’t have it and what be done to ease the problem. You'll find many graphs and links to sources of additional information, including a glossary of health coverage terms and several specific proposals for change. Also includes nine questions to ask when evaluating any health reform proposal. To download, click here. Read More

	Issue Brief: Health Reform Lessons Learned No matter who wins the White House and control of Congress in November, health reform legislation will likely be a front-burner issue for both the House and Senate in 2009. The debates about reform and the behind-the-scenes meetings of 1993 and 1994 produced a wealth of knowledge on what should be done differently the next time Congress and the White House take up this issue. This issue brief, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, recounts nine lessons learned as recalled by veterans from both sides of the aisle and from the administration. To download, click here. Read More

	Issue Brief: Changing Nursing Home Culture About a third of those turning 65 in 2010 will need nursing home care during their lifetimes. Yet so many people dread the thought of spending their last days or years in a nursing home. This is because they aren’t aware of the creative alternatives being developed for those needing such care – facilities such as “Green Houses” that are resident-centered, less institutional and more home-like. The issue brief, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, reports on the challenges being faced by those trying to change the nursing home culture, and some of their successes. The publication includes a list of expert sources and helpful websites. To download, click here. Read More