Author's posts
1000 People Described How They’d Find Happiness — Here’s Who Succeeded
Happiness doesn’t always come easily. Some people seem naturally happy, many other people struggle to find happiness. Not only do we base many of our decision on the pursuit of happiness, we often make elaborate plans to become happier. Does any of thi…
Behavioral Economic Interventions – It’s Not a Choice Between Nudges and Shoves
Behavioral interventions come on a continuum. Why is it important to recognize this more nuanced, multi-dimensional take on nudging? Because we cannot rely solely on nudges to promote publicly important behaviors or mistakenly conclude that anything m…
High Healthcare Costs — Are Insurance Premiums a Cause or an Effect?
In 2010, the state of Rhode Island decided to tackle high healthcare costs. It did so by requiring insurers to meet affordability standards. The plan worked, but not for the reasons you probably suspect. Let’s see what that means for healthcare spendin…
Death by Poison – A New American Epidemic
Americans are dying form accidental overdoses at an alarming rate.
The Most Expensive Medicare Patients Aren’t Who You Think
Over half of Medicare spending is concentrated in 10% of patients. So who are those patients and what expenses are they racking up? It’s not who or what I expected.
Angry Your Doctor Won’t Tell You What That Test Costs? You Should Be!
I’m angry about the way our healthcare system has been shifting costs to patients, often without informing them in advance. I am determined to help rein in the costs of American medical care and want to spread stories of people who have had first-hand …
A Surprising Way to Improve Diabetes Control
About a quarter of elderly Americans have diabetes. As a result of that disease, many people face high out-of-pocket healthcare costs paying for tests, medical appointments, and medications. Sadly, many find themselves forced to decide between paying f…
Medicaid: It’s an Antipoverty Program, Stupid!
If we think of Medicaid as being only a healthcare program, we overlook its much bigger impact on people’s lives. Medicaid is an antipoverty program. Medicaid helps people avoid poverty by relieving them of the costs of necessary medical care.
Struggling With Healthcare Costs? I Want to Hear Your Story
I am determined to help reign in the costs of American medical care. As part of that effort, I want to spread stories of people who have had first-hand experience with our high-cost system. I want to hear your horror stories.
Uncovered: In America, Insurance Doesn’t Guarantee Access and Coverage Doesn’t Mean You’re Covered
We need to recommit ourselves to guaranteeing people access to affordable healthcare insurance. And then we need to go one step further and make sure the insurance we offer is robust enough to allow people to receive necessary medical care without goin…
