Toolkits

Toolkits on health policy topics in the news, providing background information, a summary of the latest developments, and resources for further reading.

 

The Future of Medicare

This report summarizes the three-part series “The Future of Medicare,” which explored the basics of the Medicare program.

Background on FDA User Fee Programs

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was first authorized to collect user fees in 1992 under The Prescription Drug User Fee Act to provide funding to the agency during a period of federal budget cuts. Over the past 30 years, user fee programs have helped finance the FDA’s review of human medical products such as […]

Health Policy Roundup: State Policy Analysis

While significant attention has been paid to shifts in federal health policy, it is equally important to understand the promises, tradeoffs, and impacts of state policies on the health care system.

Right Care, Right Patient, Right Time: Comparative Effectiveness Research in the U.S.

The authorization for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is set to expire sometime this year. A decade after the creation of the institute, conversations around CER, health care value, patient-centered care, and real-world evidence continue. This Alliance toolkit seeks to ensure policymakers are informed about CER and its potential impact by providing the basics […]

Health Care Consolidation

In 2014, there were a total of 1,299 mergers and acquisitions in the health care sector – a record number, up from 1,035 the year before. This toolkit explores the driving forces behind this trend; the scope and extent of consolidation among doctors, hospitals and insurers; implications for consumers and other stakeholders; and the roles […]

The Connection between Health and Housing: The Evidence and Policy Landscape

Evidence is growing that housing, a social determinant of health, is an important factor in the health status of various populations. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), more than 610,000 people experience homelessness in the U.S., and over 250,000 individuals within that population have a severe mental illness or a chronic […]