It’s simply not realistic to expect a 180-day intervention that bolts on a few social services and home visits to immediately lower the healthcare costs of people with multiple chronic conditions.

In a divided country, effective leadership capable of knitting together diverse coalitions is essential to solving festering problems. In its absence, self-interest, not the public interest, prevails.

Every service line will see a continuing shift toward greater reliance on outpatient treatment, with some moving faster than others.

America needs a comprehensive and well-funded program that screens for and identifies people with substance use disorder, along with more programs providing prompt and effective medication-assisted treatment. 

Public health officials believe the best approach for preventing new HIV infections is a once-a-day pill approved by the FDA in 2012. But the drug’s price puts it out of reach for those who need it most.

Medicare for More brings none of the political baggage associated with Medicare for All. It’s also pro-competition and wouldn’t require massive tax increases.

No healthcare system as vast and complicated as the VA can deliver first-rate service without an open culture that encourages internal communication and dissent.

The decision by top leaders in the Democratic-controlled House to limit the plan’s scope hasn’t improved its chances in the Republican-controlled Senate, which will soon face a stark political choice.

Americans consider affordability their No. 1 healthcare concern, yet few make the connection between underinvestment in social services and their own healthcare bills.

Most Americans want practical solutions to their immediate healthcare cost problems. In this political season, pragmatism will put Democrats on much sounder political footing than pushing Medicare for All.

The idea that moving fee-for-service payments closer to commercial rates would save taxpayers money or lead to “fiscal sustainability” is absurd on its face. It would actually sharply increase Medicare payouts.

What’s driving healthcare prices higher? It’s not a greedy cabal of hospital execs. The industry has multiple cartels that are supposed to keep each other in check, but in fact engage in pseudo-negotiations that lead to higher prices on everything.

Too many people here are suffering from deteriorating social conditions that the healthcare system is ill-equipped to address.

Healthcare is dragging its feet on moving from fee-for-service to value-based medicine. Private equity firms buying up high-cost physician specialty practices will further hinder this much-needed evolution.

Lobbyists for providers have launched a lobbying blitz and “dark money” advertising campaign to weaken or scuttle bipartisan bills on balance billing in both chambers of Congress.