Arnold Rosoff - Faculty Research in Knowledge@Wharton

Social Security and Medicare: Trying to Tackle Two 800-pound Gorillas

Wed, 13 May 2009 16:53:27 EST

While many people worry about the billions of dollars spent bailing out banks, auto makers and other sectors, shortfalls in Medicare and Social Security are what could ultimately sink efforts to revive the U.S. economy. As 78 million baby boomers begin to retire, funding for the government's two primary old-age security plans grows increasingly precarious, suggest several Wharton faculty. A report released earlier this week by trustees of Social Security and Medicare echoes those concerns.

Avoiding the Tough Issues: The Candidates on Health Care and Entitlements

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:48:07 EST

"We were so concerned about the $700 billion in the bailout bill, but nobody is talking seriously about the $12 trillion we need to make Social Security whole and the $65 trillion we need to make Medicare whole," says Wharton professor Olivia Mitchell, referring to issues being debated in the U.S. presidential campaign. Meanwhile, the candidates promise to expand health care coverage without offering details about how they can finance their proposals.

The Benefits, and Potential Side Effects, of Sharing Medical Records Online

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:54:07 EST

On October 4, Microsoft launched HealthVault, a free web-based service that allows users to store their medical records online and eventually share them with doctors. On October 17, an executive at Google noted the company's interest in health information services. And on November 19, 23andMe announced a program that will allow consumers to pay $999 for the privilege of exploring their own genomes. These efforts could give patients more control over their medical records and let them share information with doctors, nutritionists or athletic trainers, among others. But the concept also faces serious hurdles, such as privacy concerns, the absence of an accepted standard for sharing medical information, and a health care industry that is reluctant to change, according to experts in the field.

Presidential Candidates Push Health Care Reform, but Who Will Pay?

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:23:27 EST

As medical costs escalate and the number of Americans without health insurance continues to rise, the 2008 presidential candidates have responded by putting health care near the top of their agendas. Indeed, many candidates have already laid out detailed programs to address the nation's health care problems. As a result, meaningful change in the system seems likely to occur once a new president takes office. As Mark V. Pauly, Wharton professor of health care systems, notes: "I'm optimistic this time that we'll get something.... There is actually a chance of doing more good than harm, and I wouldn't have said that in some other years."

'Harry and Louise,' the Sequel? The Universal Health Care Debate Is Back

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:13:32 EST

In 1993, a television ad featuring "Harry and Louise" -- a "typical" American couple dismayed by the Clinton administration's universal health care proposal -- helped to kill health care reform in the U.S. for the next decade. With the 2008 presidential election in sight, the debate has resurfaced, but are the prospects for universal health care any better today? In an ongoing study of health care systems spanning five countries, Arnold J. Rosoff, Wharton professor of legal studies and business ethics, has identified a set of factors that, in one combination or another, come into play when a country commits to adopting universal health care. This time, he says, one thing seems likely: Instead of a health care "revolution" in the U.S., change will come in increments.

When Taking Two Aspirin Won�t Do: A Primer on the Patients� Bill of Rights

Wed, 18 Jul 2001 00:00:00 EST

Anyone who has received a brochure describing medical coverage options knows just how baffling and legalistic the language can be. So, too, is the ongoing debate over the so-called �patients� bill of rights� currently winding its way through the U.S. Congress. To help explain some of the key issues, Knowledge@Wharton asked Wharton faculty members for their views on what the final bill should include.