HEALTH CARE ISSUES

Symposiums on Big Choices: The Future of Health Insurance
The LBJ School's Center for Health and Social Policy and LBJ Library and Museum launched a five-year conference series on April 25, 2003, with Big Choices: The Future of Health Insurance for America's Families. The symposium, which framed the key health policy choices facing the nation, featured presentations by Wharton School Professor Mark Pauly and Special Adviser to the Secretary of Treasury Ruben King-Shaw on health insurance tax credits; Georgetown University Dean of Policy Studies Judy Feder on public program expansions; and Commonwealth Fund Vice President Cathy Schoen on a combination strategy for expanding health insurance coverage. Following the presentations, a panel of national figures across the ideological spectrum from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities to the Heritage Foundation responded to the ideas presented. The day's events wrapped up with roundtable discussions among panelists, policymakers, scholars, and Texas business and consumer group representatives. CHASP will publish a book in 2004 based on the symposium's proceedings. The second conference in the series, Big Choices: The Future of Health Insurance for Older Americans, was held April 22-23, 2004. The symposium provided a forum for policy experts to debate the issues of financing and delivering health care services to America's growing aging population.

Apfel Book Chapter from Big Choices: The Future of Health Insurance for America's Families, 2005

The Uninsured: A Growing Challenge

Apfel Book Chapters from Big Choices: The Future of Health Insurance for Older Americans, 2006

Introducing the Issues - Medicare

Health Insurance for Older Americans: Assessing Medicare's Past, Present, and Future

Op-Ed in Dallas Morning News:
Retirees Losing a Benefit, Dallas Morning News, August 11, 2002

Policy Research Project (PRP):
Expanding Health Care Coverage for the Uninsured in Texas
This two-year policy research project, sponsored by a grant from the Foundation for Insurance Regulatory Studies in Texas (FIRST), looked at developing options for the State of Texas to increase the number of Texans with health insurance coverage. The first year was exploratory in nature and sought to develop a range of options. Students prepared background papers for a conference held at the LBJ School of Public Affairs in March 2001. The second year built on the research conducted during the first year. Another set of background papers were developed by students in the second year, and another conference was held in March 2002. Visit the PRP Website.