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Archive: Doug Ulman
Deadline schmeadline
Let's examine the alternative: no deadline. I can picture the current health-care debate creeping far into 2010, derailing on middling controversies and irrevocably mired in partisan dissent.
By Doug Ulman | November 17, 2009; 06:24 PM ET | Comments (0)
Sorry, Your Life-Saving Treatment Isn't Covered...
Imagine you're one of the 1.4 million Americans diagnosed with cancer this year. Your oncologist tells you about a clinical trial she believes will get you the newest and best treatment for your particular strain of the disease. You grab...
By Doug Ulman | November 6, 2009; 10:34 AM ET | Comments (2)
If Only It Were That Easy...
If only there were a golden health care system somewhere in the world that stood as a shining example of affordability, fairness, excellence in care and swift delivery. The truth is that while there are nations who have done a...
By Doug Ulman | October 24, 2009; 09:13 AM ET | Comments (0)
Best We Can Do?
I get it. It's a tough situation and they're doing their best. But I refuse to believe that the best we can do still leaves millions and millions of Americans behind.
By Doug Ulman | October 16, 2009; 09:49 AM ET | Comments (2)
Missing the Forest for the Trees?
Republicans fear employer mandates will impose significant financial burdens on companies and put them out of business. Democrats argue that employers have to take responsibility for the health of their workers. Both have a point.
By Doug Ulman | October 9, 2009; 12:16 PM ET | Comments (0)
Savings at Seniors' Expense or Crucial Cost-Cutting?
If our seniors are worse off after reform than they are now, then we've failed. The health care overhaul must not inadvertently hurt those we're trying to help the most, among them retired Americans on fixed incomes who are particularly vulnerable to cost increases.
By Doug Ulman | October 1, 2009; 06:03 PM ET | Comments (0)
Cadillacs are in the eye of the beholder
The intent is pure. The execution, however, may have the opposite of its intended effect. All week we've heard about the many working class Americans who've given up raises and instead taken more generous coverage from their employers, making them...
By Doug Ulman | September 25, 2009; 10:27 AM ET | Comments (0)
Cancer: A Prism for Healthcare
Cancer care is a model of the success, excess and major gaps in U.S. health care.
By Doug Ulman | September 10, 2009; 09:35 AM ET | Comments (0)
What Now?
The cancer community in particular will sorely miss him.
By Doug Ulman | August 27, 2009; 12:02 PM ET | Comments (0)
Cutting Through the Hoopla
If vital services are being twisted into sinister-sounding practices for political purposes, who wouldn't be concerned? But for many seniors, these services may be a great comfort and support mechanism.
By Doug Ulman | August 15, 2009; 06:08 PM ET | Comments (0)
Public Plan? Surprise - We've Already Got One.
The truth is, we're already several decades into a public plan. And for millions of Americans already in the Medicare, Medicaid and Veterans Administration pipeline, the answer to the question is yes.
By Doug Ulman | August 7, 2009; 02:29 PM ET | Comments (1)
Get It Right or Pay the Price
If Congress fails to act before it recesses, the delay in feeling the reform's impact should be minimal. As it stands, the majority of the reform's policies wouldn't be enacted for a handful of years and the number of uninsured Americans isn't expected to change until 2013. Ninety-nine percent of the associated expenses are expected to be incurred between 2013 and 2019. In other words, less than 1 percent of the spending will occur in the next four years.
By Doug Ulman | July 30, 2009; 05:10 PM ET | Comments (0)
The Prime Suspects
The Blue Dog Coalition is probably right. As is, the reform bill does not address cost-containment strategies. The truth is, if we don't deal with these cost drivers now, we'll certainly have to face them in a few years.
By Doug Ulman | July 22, 2009; 05:32 PM ET | Comments (1)
Mandatory Coverage: Rock and a Hard Place
Without mandates it will be nearly impossible to cover everyone and with mandates, in this economy, we know that many Americans will not be able to afford coverage.
By Doug Ulman | July 10, 2009; 04:45 PM ET | Comments (1)
Saving Lives Through Patient Navigation
In Harlem, Dr. Harold Freeman pioneered the concept of patient navigation: helping community members overcome barriers to prevention, detection and treatment. And it's working.
By Doug Ulman | July 4, 2009; 10:28 AM ET | Comments (1)
A Drop in the Bucket
For health care reform to succeed, cost is critical. The initial budget numbers from the Congressional Budget Office make that clear. Today's announcement amounts to $80 billion over the next ten years in the form of discounts for Medicare enrollees....
By Doug Ulman | June 23, 2009; 11:20 AM ET | Comments (0)
The President's Bold Speech
While I grieve the loss of my grandmother I am feeling an unfettered optimism that our country can ultimately address the health-care crisis and improve the lives of so many millions of our friends and neighbors.
By Doug Ulman | June 15, 2009; 03:25 PM ET | Comments (2)
The No. 1 Priority
Congress must immediately act and address our nation's largest moral and ethical failure: the fact that more than 47 million of our family members, colleagues, friends and neighbors are without health insurance.
By Doug Ulman | June 9, 2009; 10:33 AM ET | Comments (14)
