Healthcare reform has been slow to take shape at the federal level.  For example, last year the President and Congress were unable to come to a compromise on the expansion of the State Children’s Healthcare Insurance Program, which provides affordable insurance for low income families with children.

The battle over the increased ”federalization” of healthcare is at a standstill, at least until the next administration takes office.  Thus the states have begun to try their hands at dealing with the issue of healthcare reform.

State approaches to reform vary considerably, often depending on the political and fiscal environment; demographic characteristics, insurance market dynamics, and other economic variables also affect a state’s capacity to act.

“More and more often we’re seeing states attempt to address health reform with a balance of coverage expansions, quality improvement efforts, and cost-containment strategies,” said Martinez-Vidal. “They continue to take the lead in addressing the problems of the uninsured.”

The number of uninsured continue to grow as the nation’s economy enters a difficult period.   The general decline in employer paid health coverage has also made a large impact.

For decades the focus of the nation’s healthcare policy was centered on the elderly but as the uninsured reached epic proportions that policy has shifted somewhat.  There is still the looming fiscal difficulties facing the Medicare program in the upcoming decade.

The problem with healthcare reform has always been the cost.  The healthcare system in this country is the most expensive in the world with the highest per capita cost.  Government dollars spent at all levels account for nearly half of the total money spent on healthcare in this country.

The states face a difficult challenge ahead of them and with the many different approaches being taken, the results I’m sure will vary considerably.

In what has become more and more commonplace, employers are shifting much of the burden of healthcare insurance to employees.  Individuals are having to pay more these days as companies try to control the escalating costs of healthcare by cutting back on benefits.

While this trend started a few years back in the private sector, public sector employees are also starting to find their benefits being reduced.  As real estate prices have fallen across the country, municipalities are finding it harder to maintain their budgets with shrinking revenue from property tax rolls.

Not only current employees are feeling the pinch but many companies have also reduced benefits for retirees as well.  It can be especially difficult for those individuals who are retired and are not yet eligible for Medicare benefits. 

It has also seemed like healthcare policy in this country has shifted the focus from the elderly to the uninsured.  Americans are seeing insurance costs rising across the board as they get older

It has become a difficult choice for employers in both the private and public sector.  In these  economic conditions, they are basically forced to either reduce employee benefits or cut back on jobs.

In what has become more and more commonplace, employers are shifting much of the burden of healthcare insurance to employees.  Individuals are having to pay more these days as companies try to control the escalating costs of healthcare by cutting back on benefits.

While this trend started a few years back in the private sector, public sector employees are also starting to find their benefits being reduced.  As real estate prices have fallen across the country, municipalities are finding it harder to maintain their budgets with shrinking revenue from property tax rolls.

Not only current employees are feeling the pinch but many companies have also reduced benefits for retirees as well.  It can be especially difficult for those individuals who are retired and are not yet eligible for Medicare benefits. 

It has also seemed like healthcare policy in this country has shifted the focus from the elderly to the uninsured.  Americans are seeing insurance costs rising across the board as they get older

It has become a difficult choice for employers in both the private and public sector.  In these  economic conditions, they are basically forced to either reduce employee benefits or cut back on jobs.