Overuse Of Health Care ‘Crisis’ Label Blocks Facing Policy Reality
Forbes January 31, 2024
The phrase “health care crisis” long ago evolved into an incantation, magic words meant to somehow summon public attention.
Mostly, that’s harmless. But a close look at a column entitled “Two Health Care Cost Crises,” from health policy establishment pillar Drew Altman, suggests that too much crisis-mongering can impede the crucial task of facing political reality.
If you don’t recognize the name “KFF,” it’s because the Kaiser Family Foundation gave up trying to explain it wasn’t part of the Kaiser Permanente health plan and adopted a moniker made up of initials, like AARP retiring “retired.” Since becoming KFF’s president in the 1990s, Altman has built the group into a widely respected source for thoughtful and independent health policy research, polling...