Why Health Reform Will Bend the Cost Curve
<p>A <a href="/publications/issue-briefs/2009/dec/why-health-reform-will-bend-cost-curve">new study</a> shows that the cost-containing impacts of the Senate and House health reform proposals could be even greater than previous analyses have shown. The report, coauthored by David Cutler, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, and Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis and senior research associate Kristof Stremikis, takes into account the implications of important research not reflected in previous analyses by the Congressional Budget Office and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. </p>
<p>The authors estimate that the Senate health reform proposal will result in: </p>
<ul>
<li>total savings of $2,500 on health care spending for the typical family by 2019; </li>
<li>deficit reduction of up to $409 billion over 10 years (nearly $280 billion more than CBO estimates); and </li>
<li>Medicare savings of $576 billion (nearly $200 billion more than CBO estimates). </li>
</ul>
<p>The report reaches similar conclusions about the House bill. </p>
<p>The Senate is in the middle of debate over health reform legislation. <br /><br /></p>