Brookings: Experts - Henry J. Aaron

The Senate Votes to Open Debate on Health Care Reform

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:15:00 GMT

The Senate voted Saturday night to allow the health care reform debate to proceed to the Senate floor. Senior Fellow Henry Aaron cautions that any legislation to revamp the system must be fiscally responsible and should improve the quality of care. He says lawmakers have many long discussions ahead of them.

Letter to Obama on Health Care Reform

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The White House recently released a letter sent to President Obama by a group of more than twenty economists, including two Nobel laureates and five former presidents of the American Economic Association, urging that health reform should include four key measures to rein in health care spending and promote fiscal responsibility.

Fix Baucus' Health Reform Rx: Three Big Changes Democrats Must Make for the Bill to Work

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Henry Aaron argues that it is essential that the health care reform bill authored by Sen. Max Baucus and recently passed by the Senate Finance Committee undergo some modification if it is to truly expand coverage, improve care and drive down costs.

Bend the Revenue Curve: Health Reform Alone Won't End Deficits

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Although health care reform is intended to bend the curve of spending and reduce the deficit, it alone will not be enough, say Henry Aaron and Isabel Sawhill. They propose that Congress enact a value-added tax, the equivalent of a broad-based sales tax on all goods and services. The revenue from the new tax, and other sources, should be linked directly to public health care spending through a newly created trust fund which would pay for all federal health care spending.

R.I.P. Public Option

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Henry Aaron discusses the likely demise of the public option and laments that such a minor issue has continually diverted attention from reform issues that really count - how to create health insurance exchanges, what powers to give them, how much insurance people should have, what subsidies low-income households need to make that insurance affordable, and how to change health care delivery to realize the full potential of modern medicine.

Grading the Baucus Health Plan

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

After months of preparations and negotiations, Senator Max Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee, unveiled his health care bill. Henry Aaron offers a review of the proposed plan, observing that it is unclear whether enough Democrats will vote for the tax increases or spending cuts necessary to pay for any bill they are willing to support.

Is Health Spending Excessive? If So, What Can We Do About It?

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In this new article, Senior Fellow Henry Aaron and Paul B. Ginsburg discuss the delicate task of reining in spending without harming our welfare.

Obama’s Speech: Reviving Health Reform

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

After a difficult August congressional recess in which plans to reform the nation’s health care system seemed to be in jeopardy, President Barack Obama gave a speech to a congressional joint session, making it clear that he would use every resource available to him to assure that his health care reform plan succeeds. Henry Aaron analyzes President Obama's speech.

What the President's Speech Means for Health Care Reform

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:08:23 GMT

After the President addressed a Joint Session of Congress, Senior Fellow Henry Aaron offers his view on where health care reform efforts move from here. Aaron says that the president delivered a strong and persuasive speech that spells out his vision for health care reform, and that Congress and Republicans stand to gain much by helping to deliver important reform.

There Is a Better Way for Health Care Reform

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Senior Fellow Henry Aaron reviews the new book, Chaos and Organization in Health Care, by Thomas H. Lee and JamesJ. Mongan.

There is No Entitlement Crisis; There Is a Health Care Funding Crisis

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Senior Fellow Henry J. Aaron explains why reforming health care is crucial to sustaining Medicare, Social Security and federal finances.

Why Paying for Health Care Reform Is Difficult and Essential: Numbers and Rules

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As Congress continues to debate health care reform, the question of how to pay for it remains at the center of the discussion. The politics of paying for near-universal coverage are formidable and may prove insurmountable, says Henry Aaron. He believes it is essential to identify elements of a full plan that could be financed at a politically acceptable price and would set the stage for later reforms.

What Will Happen With Health Care Reform Legislation?

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:52:06 GMT

With the Congressional district work period about to start, lawmakers were unable to meet President Obama’s deadline to pass health care reform legislation, but talks will continue in the fall. Henry Aaron says differing opinions on everything from framing the issue to paying for reform make finding common ground difficult.

Health Reform: The Reality Show

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Henry Aaron discusses the draft bill released by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and the Congressional Budget Office 's published estimate that the bill would cost $1 trillion over 10 years and leave 35 million uninsured.

Health Care, Entitlements and the Federal Budget

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Henry Aaron recently spoke about the budget, health care and entitlements at the Youth Action Conference. The conference, hosted by the Concord Coalition in conjunction with the Youth Entitlements Summit highlighted grassroots efforts and policy perspectives of youth organizations in addressing America's long-term fiscal challenge.

Social Security and Medicare Solvency

Fri, 15 May 2009 10:19:47 GMT

The latest report on the solvency of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds reveals that these entitlement programs will likely run out of money sooner than expected. Senior Fellow Henry Aaron assesses the future of these two programs.

Health Care Reform: Beware of Interest Groups Bearing Gifts

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Obama administration’s breakthrough with the health care industry to cut costs is eerily reminiscent of the 1970s, according to Henry Aaron. Then, as today, health care spending was outpacing income growth and the industry promised to voluntarily to rein in the growth. If we are to learn from history, rather than simply repeat it, he says, there are some simple but vitally important lessons.

U.S. Health Care Reform: The Art of the Possible

Sat, 09 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Behind closed doors all over Washington, serious people are working hard to design a major overhaul of the U.S. health care system. We should wish them well, but their chances of success are slim, says Henry Aaron. Since yet another complete failure would be catastrophic, some attention should be given now to policies that, he says, are politically palatable and would begin the evolution to a new and better health system.

Health Care Reform and the Economy

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:29:44 GMT

Henry Aaron says health care reform is a critical step forward for the nation and needs to be strategically crafted and implemented. The economy, he adds, could be a factor affecting President Obama’s plans for tackling the issue.

Obama's Health Care Overhaul Begins

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Henry Aaron discusses President Obama's recently-released budget and the recent White House health summit, saying that they signal the president's commitment to smart, meaningful reform.

There is No Entitlement Crisis

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

That the United States faces daunting long-term budget challenges is indisputable. But the very projections—those of the Congressional Budget Office—cited to document the long-term budget challenge, show that there is no general entitlement problem, says Henry Aaron. Rather, he argues, the nation faces a daunting health care financing problem that bedevils private insurers and public programs alike.

Memo to President Obama: Ensure that Health Reform Finally Succeeds

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Congress quickly passed the State Children's Health Insurance Program in its opening days, but the Obama administration and congressional leaders want to do far more to extend health insurance coverage and reform the delivery of care. While obstacles that have frustrated prior reform efforts remain powerful, Henry Aaron says that the key for Obama will be to identify specific reforms that will move toward his long-term vision.

A Vision for the U.S. Pension System at 100

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Despite criticism of the Social Security Act, and it's application to twenty fist century America, Henry Aaron believes that those views are wrong. In broad outline, he says, the system is sound, sensibly designed, and affordable though some changes are now desirable, and that others will, and should, be made as economic and political conditions warrant. But he urges, they should affirm and strengthen the system, not scale it back or repeal it.

Memo to the President: Reform Health Care

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Almost 50 million Americans are uninsured, the cost of public and private health insurance is rising and the quality of care is uneven at best. Henry Aaron offers a public memo to President Obama with recommendations on how to deal with the challenges that will confront him in reforming health care. The memo is the twelfth of 12 Brookings memos on the most crucial public policy priorities facing the new president.

The Pitfalls of Overreaching In Health Reform

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Although fundamental reform of U.S. health care is clearly necessary, there are still daunting obstacle: the sheer size of the health sector, the multiplicity of powerful groups with conflicting interests, and the factionalized U.S. political system. But change is in the air and chances for health care reform seem more likely than ever. However, Henry Aaron argues not to overreach and risk failure; instead he says the focus should be on essential and achievable steps that will sustain long-term change.

The Role of States in a National Health Reform Effort

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Henry Aaron, Stuart Butler, Alan Weil, and Judy Feder join moderator Larry Levitt of kaisernetwork.org in a Ask the Experts webcast for a discussion of the role of states in a national health reform effort.

Waste and the Health Care System

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

According to a widely held view, the U.S. health care system is replete with waste, the removal of which can finance health care reform. Unfortunately, what waste really means is poorly understood, and the potential for realizing quick savings is quite limited. Several measures hold out the promise of curbing the growth of health care spending, but savings are likely to be slow in coming says Henry Aaron.

Healthy Choice: A Step-by-Step approach to Universal Health Care

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Many Democrats see a return to the White House a call to resume the fight for full-blown national health insurance. Henry Aaron argues, a more modest, step-by-step approach carries a greater chance of success and—even more important—a smaller chance of devastating failure.

Another Lesson from Today’s Financial Meltdown

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the midst of the financial chaos enveloping Wall Street and threatening the U.S. and global economy, Henry Aaron says it is worth a moment to recall the quite serious debate just three years ago about partly privatizing Social Security, a step that would have exposed retirement and disability pensions to risks like those now confronting private investors.

Covering the Uninsured: Cheap at Twice the Price

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To cover the uninsured, health care financing must be restructured. Henry Aaron takes a closer look at Senator Obama and Senator McCain's health programs.

A Balanced Approach to Restoring Fiscal Responsibility

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With baby boomers beginning to retire and health care spending outpacing income growth, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security face an uncertain financial future. Henry Aaron, Charles Schultze and other experts propose a radical change in budget procedures to address the budget deficits currently projected for future decades.

Closing Budget Deficits: An Entitlements Commission is Not the Answer

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Henry J. Aaron testified before the House Committee on the Budget about H.R. 3654, a bill that would establish a federal budget commission to "reform tax policy and entitlement benefit programs and ensure a sound fiscal future."

Reforming Medicare : Options, Tradeoffs, and Opportunities

Thu, 01 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Aaron and Lambrew provide essential insight into the types of hybrid Medicare policies that Congress will consider in coming years.

Health Care Challenges for Our Next President

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:45:24 GMT

Senior Fellow Henry Aaron explains to ABC’s Martha Raddatz that our next president will confront major health policy decisions with far-reaching effects on the life of virtually every American.

Candidates' Health Care Plans: Take a Chill Pill

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

While voters are trying to figure out which presidential candidate has the better health care plan, Henry Aaron writes that there are little differences between the candidates’ health care plans, and argues that voters should focus on who can govern effectively.

Why Has Health Care Reform Failed?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Henry Aaron argues that the nation cannot afford to once again walk away from the health care mess with nothing to show.

Budget Crisis, Entitlement Crisis, Health Care Financing Problem—Which Is It?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Henry Aaron raises questions about the health-care budget and finding solutions to this long term problem.

Funding the Veterans Affairs of the Future

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Testimony by Henry J. Aaron (10/03/07)

Meeting the Challenge of Health Care Quality: Achieve Reforms in Medicare, Quality, & Malpractice

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The cost of the U.S. health care system is high and rising at unsustainable rates, and a growing number of Americans has inadequate health insurance or none at all. The American public has a right to expect all Presidential candidates to address the overall problem of rising costs and decreasing financial access to care. But it also should expect candidates to address certain specific health system shortcomings, including the need to reform Medicare, improve quality, and tackle medical malpractice reform.

Meeting the Dilemma of Health Care Access: Extend Insurance Coverage while Controlling Costs

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Health care is the nation's largest-and, in many respects, most important- industry. It is a large share of the nation's economy and a major source of employment, to be sure, but, by improving people's health and reducing disability, it promotes productivity across the economy and improves quality of life. The dollar value of Americans' improved health over the last three decades approximates the value of all other economic growth combined, and much, though not all, of that gain is traceable to improved health care.

Three Steps to Better Healthcare

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron (2/10/07)

A Bipartisan Attempt to Break the Health-reform Stalemate

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron and Stuart Butler, Salt Lake Tribune (January 1, 2007)

A Healthcare Prescription That's Hard to Swallow

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron, Los Angeles Times (1/30/05)

Health Care Reform

Mon, 23 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Interview by Henry J. Aaron, The Diane Rehm Show (1/23/06)

Health Care Rationing: What it Means

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Policy Brief #147 by Henry J. Aaron (December 2005)

Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease: What Does Rationing Do?

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Policy Brief #148 by Henry J. Aaron (December 2005)

Can We Say No? : The Challenge of Rationing Health Care

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

This book explains why serious consideration of health care rationing is inescapable. It also provides the information policymakers and concerned citizens need to think clearly about these difficult issues and engage in an informed debate.

Raise a Glass to a Fair Tax Hike

Mon, 07 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron and George A. Hacker, Knight-Ridder Newspapers (11/7/05)

Why I'm No Fan of the Stadium Financing Plan

Sun, 07 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron, The Washington Post (11/7/04)

Privatize Social Security? No

Mon, 01 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron, The New York Daily News (11/1/04)

The Rising Cost of Health Care: Is it a Problem?

Tue, 19 Oct 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Speech by Henry J. Aaron, Institute of Medicine (10/19/04)

Financing Health Care with Limited Resources

Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Speech by Henry J. Aaron, Conference on Health Care Challenges Facing the Nation (10/7/04)

The Crisis in Tax Administration

Thu, 20 May 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Over the last few years, the U.S. Congress has restricted spending on tax administration, forcing the Internal Revenue Service to curtail enforcement activities, at the same time, that the number of individual filers has increased, tax rules have bec

How Federalism Could Spur Bipartisan Action On The Uninsured

Wed, 31 Mar 2004 00:00:00 GMT

How Federalism Could Spur Bipartisan Action On The Uninsured - paper by Henry Aaron

The Current State of the U.S. Government's Budget

Wed, 04 Feb 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Testimony by Henry J. Aaron (2/4/04)

Coping with Methuselah : The Impact of Molecular Biology on Medicine and Society

Tue, 20 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT

This book gathers a group of practicing scientists and public policy experts to address the technical aspects and policy implications of increased life expectancy.

Prescription Drug Bill: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Thu, 15 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Henry J. Aaron (1/15/04)

The Prescription Drug Bill: Many Steps Backward

Fri, 21 Nov 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron (11/21/03)

Budget Deficit and Entitlements: The Grand Delusion

Wed, 15 Oct 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron (10/15/03)

Coping with Methuselah: Public Policy Implications of a Lengthening Human Life Span

Mon, 01 Sep 2003 00:00:00 GMT

In the coming century, human mortality rates may begin falling rapidly. Eventually molecular biology may lengthen human life almost unimaginably. Is the Age of Methuselah at hand? And if so, what will it mean for public policy in the United States, a

The Costs of Health Care Administration in the United States and Canada: Questionable Answers to a Questionable Question

Thu, 21 Aug 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron for the New England Journal of Medicine (8/21/03)

Four Steps to Better Health Care

Sun, 06 Jul 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron and Stuart M. Butler for the Washington Post (7/06/03)

Truth In Taxes: A Voter's Guide to Election-Year Tax Talk

Sat, 01 Mar 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Henry J. Aaron and William G. Gale (Spring 2000)

Economic Report of the President

Wed, 26 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Testimony by Henry Aaron to The Joint Economic Committee on February 26, 2003

Template for Health Care Coverage

Mon, 25 Nov 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Template for Health Care Coverage

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Managed Competition

Fri, 01 Feb 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Henry J. Aaron, Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution, in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, February 2002

How to Wage War and Help Economy

Sat, 27 Oct 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, in The Boston Globe, October 27, 2001

The Future of Academic Medical Centers

Fri, 07 Sep 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Academic medical centers provide a wide range of crucial services, but many are currently suffering severe financial crises. Henry J. Aaron and a group of disttinguished experts address the key issues and prescribe remedies both regulatory and legisl

Budget Realities: Priorities & Politics

Thu, 02 Aug 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron, San Diego Union-Tribune (9/2/01)

Perspective on the Draft Interim Report of the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security

Mon, 23 Jul 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Henry Aaron (07/23/01)

The Plight of Academic Medical Centers

Tue, 01 May 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Policy Brief #59, by Henry J. Aaron (May 2000)

Don't Trust Those Triggers

Tue, 27 Mar 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry Aaron, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, in The Washington Post, March 27, 2001

The President's Tax Plan: Questions and Answers

Wed, 07 Mar 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Testimony by Henry Aaron to U.S. Senate Finance Committee

Letter to Governor George W. Bush

Thu, 07 Sep 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Letter to Governor George W. Bush, September 08, 2000, by Henry Aaron, Robert Ball and Alicia Munnell, Economic Studies, The Brookings Institution

Bush's Shaky Retirement Plan

Thu, 24 Aug 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion in The Washington Post, August 24, 2000, by Henry J. Aaron and Alan S. Blinder, Economic Studies, The Brookings Institution

Entitlement Reform

Thu, 27 Jul 2000 00:00:00 GMT

testimony by henry aaron to house budget committee on entitlement reform

Governor Bush's Individual Account Proposal: Implications for Retirement Benefits

Mon, 05 Jun 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Economic Papers

Gore, Bush Vague on Social Security

Sun, 07 May 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion in Newsday, May 7, 2000, by Henry Aaron, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution

Don't Let Good News Stop Benefit Reforms

Mon, 24 Apr 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion in the Los Angeles Times, April 24, 2000, by Henry Aaron

Trustees Reports on Social Security: The Dangers of Legislative Micro-Management of Statistical Reports

Tue, 11 Apr 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Testimony by Henry Aaron before the House Subcommittee on Social Security of the Committee on Ways and Means

The Centenarian Boom: Providing for Retirement in a Long-Lived America

Wed, 01 Mar 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Henry J. Aaron (Spring 2000)

Health Care: Let's Face Reality

Sun, 23 Jan 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry Aaron, The Washington Post, January 24, 2000

Assessing Employment-Based Insurance and its Alternatives

Fri, 17 Dec 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Assessing Employment-Based Insurance and its Alternatives

A Bad Plan for Social Security

Thu, 09 Dec 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Letter to the Editor of The Washington Post, December 9, 1999, by Henry J. Aaron

The Internet Tax Dodge

Fri, 03 Dec 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron

The Rocky Road to Tax Reform

Wed, 01 Dec 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 15, no. 1 (Winter 2001)

Should We Retire Social Security?: Grading the Reform Plans

Wed, 01 Dec 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review, Winter 1999

Great Pretenders

Mon, 08 Nov 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry Aaron, The Washington Post, November 8, 1999

Clinton's Got a Wise Plan for Surplus

Tue, 02 Feb 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry Aaron

The Phony Issue of Double-Counting

Mon, 01 Feb 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry Aaron

Death and Taxes: Now's Hardly the Time to Favor the Richest Among Us

Sun, 04 May 1997 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry Aaron, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution

Newest Public Utility? Health Care

Thu, 25 Jan 1996 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry Aaron, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution