December 18, 2015
To Cut Health Costs, California Makes Patients Shop Around
California is saving millions making people compare prices for certain medical services.
November 6, 2015
The Calming of Incarcerated Minds
Meditation can improve inmates’ mental health better than traditional care, which is why it’s being reintroduced in some prisons.
October 20, 2015
Recipe for a Successful Wellness Program
Studies are mixed on the effectiveness of incentivizing employees to get healthier. But one county is chalking up some big savings.
December 11, 2014
Why Alibaba Offers Hope for Online Sales Taxes
Will Congress be swayed by the entry of a Chinese e-commerce competitor?
November 13, 2014
A Green Bond for Public Pensions
Pension plans want to support environmental projects, but there is one thing holding them back.
October 16, 2014
Can Income Tax Cuts Boost a State's Economy?
Two researchers say the answer comes down to how a tax cut is financed.
September 11, 2014
Cut! States Are Walking Back Film Tax Credits
Many states are rethinking once-popular production incentives -- a contrast from California, which is offering more to protect one of its biggest industries.
August 14, 2014
Congress Considers Reviving Risky Bonds to Boost Small Businesses
Industrial development bonds historically have the highest default rate, but a bill in Congress would revamp them.
July 17, 2014
States Take Note: FATCA Is Here
After years of planning, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act is finally in effect. How will it affect your state?
June 12, 2014
The Complexities of Taxing the Cloud
Cloud sales are expected to generate billions in revenue this year, but state and local governments are unsure whether they can (and how they would) tax them.
May 29, 2014
States Search for Retirement Security Beyond Obama’s myRA
The president’s public retirement savings account only goes so far, so about a dozen states are looking for alternative ways to help their many constituents who have no nest egg.
May 15, 2014
2 Reasons to Be Upbeat About the Muni Bond Market
Although issuance is down, there have been a few good developments on the municipal bond front.
April 24, 2014
Corporate Tax Attacks in the States
At the same time states are looking to beef up corporate tax collections, they are also cutting corporate taxes.
April 10, 2014
Is it Time to Put a New Commuter Tax in Drive?
D.C.'s Tax Revision Commission has suggested an unusual way to broaden the city's tax base -- and get around the federal government.
March 27, 2014
The Time May Have Arrived for Online Sales Tax Fairness
Partially driven by a devastating alternative, Congress appears closer than ever to passing an Internet sales tax bill.
March 13, 2014
Public Pension Portfolios vs. Hedge Funds
A group of local pension plans has a strategy to fight 2-and-20 fees and lower the costs of private equity investments.
February 27, 2014
The Future of Financing Infrastructure
With the ways for funding transportation infrastructure changing, what options do Congress and the states have left?
February 13, 2014
10 Budgeting Tips for Long-Term Financial Planning
A new report lays out several fiscal planning tools that can help officials see what's sustainable.
January 30, 2014
Will the 2014 Muni Market Be Good for Issuers?
Analysts see a better year ahead, but say there are factors that could cause a 2013 repeat.
January 16, 2014
Taking a Tax Bite Out of Bitcoin
Do states and localities have a revenue interest in virtual currencies?
October 24, 2013
The Latest on the Amazon Tax in States, Courts and Congress
While Congress stalls on federal online sales tax legislation, a growing number of states are now taking advantage of the extra revenue -- but not without a fight.
September 26, 2013
Can the Threat of Defunding Education Slow Down Tax Cuts?
A tax fight in Missouri may signify the limits to cuts.
September 12, 2013
Gay Marriage and State Taxes
States that don't recognize same-sex marriage will face a few tax complications come 2014.
August 29, 2013
Turmoil and Trouble in the Muni Bond Market
A veteran issuer gives his perspective on the mounting woes over muni bonds.
August 15, 2013
Foreclosure and the Eminent Domain Solution Explained
Richmond, Calif.’s plan -- which dozens of localities are considering -- is facing legal and legislative challenges. What are the pros and cons of seizing underwater mortgages using eminent domain?
July 31, 2013
Irvine, Calif. Plans to Prepay Its Pension Bill
The well-to-do city in Southern California will pay off 30 years worth of liabilities in a decade.
July 18, 2013
Assessing Help for Housing
A recent Brookings report evaluates their effects on the housing market.
June 13, 2013
A New, Sometimes Not-So-Nice Outlook for the Muni Market
Despite some positive developments, it seems the SEC and IRS are cracking down on the municipal bond market.
May 30, 2013
Do the States Have a Debt Problem?
States and localities have $3 trillion in debt, but the purpose and use of debt differs significantly from the federal government.
May 16, 2013
A Third Way for Public Pensions: Adjustable Pension Plans
Defined-benefit plans put all the risk on states and localities; defined-contribution plans put it all on employees. Now there's a new approach to risk sharing.
April 30, 2013
Gun Debate Revives the Pension-Investment Dispute
When there’s public outcry over something -- whether it’s gun control or apartheid -- states and cities reevaluate what their pension plans invest in. But should they be social investing at all?
April 25, 2013
Do Tax Breaks for Senior Citizens Pay for Themselves?
Cash-strapped states are questioning the tax exemptions they offer the elderly.
April 11, 2013
What's Wrong with Kansas' Tax Reform?
According to finance experts from the left and right, it's the worst reform measure passed by a state in the last two years.
March 14, 2013
What's the Medicaid Expansion Worth to a State?
The fiscal facts on what a state gains or loses by broadening its Medicaid roles.
February 14, 2013
Gun Taxes and State Revenues
A handful of states and localities are considering gun and ammunition taxes. Is there any state and local revenue in this approach?
January 31, 2013
The Muni Bond Market in 2013
Issuers may be enjoying low-interest rates when they come to market, but that doesn't mean these are the best of times.
January 17, 2013
What to Do About the Gas Tax?
Two states, two different approaches for fixing how we pay for roads.
December 13, 2012
The State of State and Local Finances
New studies afford a state-by-state or city-by-city analysis of fiscal well being.
November 30, 2012
States, Estate Taxes and the Fiscal Cliff
What is the future of the 'death tax'?
November 15, 2012
Cities, Bankruptcy Law and Pension Payments
As cities face extreme fiscal pressure, can Chapter 9 ease their pension obligations?
October 25, 2012
Looking Past Libor
The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board is hoping to help arm issuers with more information before they borrow money.
October 11, 2012
States and the Federal Fiscal Cliff
The effect of higher federal taxes and sequestration cuts on state budgets and revenue.
September 27, 2012
Raising Money for Education
Are there ways to open taxpayers' wallets for K-12 kids?
September 13, 2012
Dissecting State and Local Finances
A look at past, present and future issues that have been swept under the fiscal rug.
August 30, 2012
Lowering the High Cost of an Agency's Real Estate Move
A private banker has an idea for "rentalizing" upfront costs when agencies consolidate and move into smaller office space.
August 16, 2012
Bonds: A New Way to Fund Clean Energy
A new initiative hopes to pair the science of alternative energies with the power of bond financing.
August 2, 2012
Checking In On the Amazon Tax Battle
States have been battling Amazon and other online retailers over sales tax collection for years. Have they finally made progress?
July 12, 2012
Can Eminent Domain Help End the Foreclosure Crisis?
Wall Street opposes the idea, but a county in California thinks it can use eminent domain to seize underwater mortgages and restructure them on behalf of homeowners.
June 28, 2012
The Very Public Private-Sector Retirement Problem
The Great Recession was hard on private workers. Will states and localities have to rescue them?
June 14, 2012
Taking Tax Cuts to a Deeper Level
Four states have already considered eliminating income or property taxes this year.
May 24, 2012
The Latest Wrinkles in the Muni Bond Market
While things appear to be looking up, new questions arise about loans, debts and borrowings from banks.
May 10, 2012
Sales Tax Zapped by Zappers
As technology improves, more and more businesses are using tax zappers to skim sales taxes.
April 12, 2012
The Case for a State-Owned Bank
One professor argues it's a way to bring revenue gushing into state coffers.
March 29, 2012
The Volcker Rule's Role in the Muni Market
A reform aimed at Wall Street is taking a shot at the bonds states and localities issue.
March 15, 2012
Fracking Tax Issues and Logistics
Hydraulic fracturing is being touted as a revenue bonanza for the 35 states that have shale gas potential, but it's not without its issues.
March 1, 2012
A Bank for Infrastructure Funding
Legislation moving through Congress could help states and localities finance public works projects.
February 16, 2012
The Pros and Cons of Internet Gambling
Will online poker be the revenue boost states are looking for?
January 12, 2012
The Muni Market in 2012
Economists and analysts are optimistic this year will be better than the last. Still, there are a few storm clouds on the horizon.
December 15, 2011
Seeking a Silver Lining to Calamities
Everyone knows the havoc disasters wreck on finances. How about the good they have?
December 12, 2011
Revenue for Road Repairs
Raise it or reform it: Is it time for states to rethink the gas tax?
November 16, 2011
The Liabilities of an NBA Lockout
Are city taxes and revenues affected if professional sports teams cancel their season?
November 10, 2011
Building a New Financial Base
Cities that retool for a global economy can set the stage for a reliable revenue stream.
October 19, 2011
States and Localities Squeeze Nonprofits
Are localities looking for revenue in the wrong place?
October 13, 2011
A Local Solution to a Bond Insurance Problem
With localities scrambling to find investors, the National League of Cities ponders jumping into the insurance business.
September 21, 2011
Death of the Mortgage Interest Deduction?
The feds are talking about ending the popular tax expenditure, which could be positive and negative for state and local economies.
September 15, 2011
The Trouble with Housing
For state and local revenues to improve, housing sales need to improve. The problem is that the outlook for housing isn't very pretty.
August 17, 2011
Sales Taxes Take A Holiday
Consumers may like back-to-school tax holidays, but are they good public policy?
August 11, 2011
Credit Rating Risks Ahead
If you thought the Great Recession was the most trying time for state and local government credit ratings, think again.
July 20, 2011
Businesses and the Property Tax
A new report scores states on how well they administer the unpopular tax.
July 14, 2011
Atlanta Pulls Off A Major Pension Overhaul
Plus, what might a lost NFL or NBA season cost your state and city?
June 22, 2011
Anatomy of a Tax Amnesty
Tax amnesties are unpopular with the public. On the other hand, they raise much-needed money in this cash-strapped climate.
June 16, 2011
The Demand for Disclosure
Municipal bond market investors want to know more about issuers -- and they want to know it on a quarterly, semi-annual and annual basis.
May 18, 2011
States Look to Collect Internet Sales Taxes
Desperate for revenue, states are trying all the tricks in the book to force Internet retailers to collect sales taxes.
May 12, 2011
What’s the Matter with the Muni Market?
Both borrowing and lending have decreased. The municipal bond market's problems run deeper than simple headline risk.
April 26, 2011
Student Debt and the Public Purse
The student loan bubble could hurt state and local revenue.
April 20, 2011
The Story Behind Tax Expenditures
They're the hottest topic in budget-balancing and deficit-cutting circles. They are also the least understood and the most controversial.
April 14, 2011
Rainy Day Funds: Did the Lifeline Work?
As revenues return, legislators and policymakers are beginning to take stock of how well their rainy day funds functioned.
March 16, 2011
Is the Hollywood Tax Credit Under Attack?
In a year when severe budget cuts are on the table, states are rethinking film tax-credit programs.
March 10, 2011
Is the Muni Bond Market Really in Dire Straits?
Some argue that the municipal bond market's recent upheaval is the fault of a single 60 Minutes segment.
February 16, 2011
Rejecting Sales Tax Exemptions on Food
Does taxing food partially or not at all make sense politically or fiscally? One University of Connecticut law professor says it doesn't.
February 10, 2011
A Measure of Financial Fitness
A new online tool in North Carolina provides a systematic approach in analyzing financial conditions for local governments.
January 19, 2011
A Lagging Local Tax
Property taxes once showed a sizable rate of growth. Not anymore.
January 18, 2011
Losing Out on Corporate Taxes
The state of state corporate income taxes is a mess.
January 13, 2011
All Fiscal Help Is Local
The list of cities in fiscal stress is growing. Will states intervene to help them work out their fiscal problems?
December 22, 2010
The Search for Lost Treasures: Dealing with Unclaimed Property
Several states not only help citizens find unclaimed property, but they also make money off of it.
December 16, 2010
Cutting Medicaid
States must make the least-worse budget cuts -- or consider dropping out of the program.
November 17, 2010
The Courts Rule on the 'Amazon Tax'
Confronting privacy and "nexus" issues, courts in several states have handed down new rulings in an escalating battle with online retailers to tax Internet transactions.
November 10, 2010
The Financial Road Ahead
The state of the union, and four positive steps states can take to improve their fiscal outlook.
October 20, 2010
The 'Amazon Tax' Battle Escalates
North Carolina is giving its online retailers an ultimatum: collect sales taxes now or risk an audit later.
October 14, 2010
Are Municipal Bankruptcies Imminent?
State and local debt is at an all time high -- governments have borrowed $2.4 trillion as of mid-2010.
September 22, 2010
Colorado Taxes Pot
Colorado didn't legalize medical marijuana to make money, but since regulations went into effect, it has raised millions.
Tough Times for TIFs?
An expert discusses whether tax increment financing (TIF), a local development tool, can withstand declining real estate values and a tough economic climate.
August 18, 2010
Revenue Roulette
Is gambling a great source of revenue for states and localities, or a peril-filled recreation?
August 12, 2010
Fannie, Freddie and the Future of Housing
Three experts share their views on efforts to reform the mortgage giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and why state and local governments should care.
July 21, 2010
Getting High on Excise Taxes
More and more states are turning to a perennial favorite, the excise tax, to weather the recession.
July 15, 2010
Budgets, Bonds and Basketball
When it comes to raising money and spending it, states and localities face formidable political obstacles.
June 23, 2010
Wallets, Recessions and Tax Commissions
In a bad economy, is a tax commission likely to have more of an impact?
June 17, 2010
Credit Rater Woes
Can new competition in the credit-rating arena reignite the municipal bond market?
June 1, 2010
A Fight Festers
GASB ups the ante on performance.
May 19, 2010
The Ultimate Revenue Raiser: Asset Sales
In these budget busting times, state-owned buildings are increasingly up for sale. But states may have better options.
May 13, 2010
Bonds, Bankruptcy and Bad Luck
When a public-purpose project fails, should taxpayers pick up the bill?
May 1, 2010
Taxing Away Exemptions
Pittsburgh's proposed tax would have been a first: a 1 percent levy on all tuition paid by the city's 100,000 college students. If it had passed, it...
A Value-Added Tax For America?
There is talk about how a VAT could solve some of the federal government's deficit problems, but could a VAT fix sales taxes?
Cities Face Double Trouble
In a race to recovery, cities fight both job loss and housing devaluation.
Taxing Away an Exemption
With revenue down, states and localities are taking a second look at tax-exempt organizations.
The Bond Bankers Weigh In
Bond dealers, senior economists and credit market strategists give their outlook on the future of state and local revenue.
Staunching a Loss
By not opting out of a federal tax deduction, states stand to lose millions in revenues.
A Fiscal Case for Medicaid?
The health-care program for the poor is always accused of busting budgets, but could slashing it actually harm budgets?
Please, Pay Your Taxes
Washington State's voluntary tax compliance effort tries friendly persuasion.
Closing the Gap: Are Pensions Next?
Cash-strapped states desperately need to close budget shortfalls. Costly pensions are an increasingly inviting target.
December 31, 2009
Primary-Care System Lags Behind Other Developed Nations
The dwindling number of primary care physicians is a dagger at the heart of health care reform. If nearly all Americans have insurance, how will...
December 31, 2009
Is Municipal Bond Insurance Dead?
It's like a page out of the Brothers Grimm. Once upon a time -- and not so very long ago -- there were four giants....
The 'Amazon Tax': Friend or Foe?
Some fear the battle to force online retailers to collect sales taxes could neutralize tax revenue.
Municipal Bonds Under the Gun
The old reliable source to borrow money for "making money" has fallen on hard times.
November 30, 2009
Unhealthy Economy, Sick People
Employers--and that includes states and localities--have been focusing on wellness and prevention as a means of keeping their employees healthy and thereby less costly to...
Are Tax Amnesties a Good Idea?
They can bring in a lot of quick revenue, but they raise some tricky issues.
A Housing Market on the Mend
There are signs that a housing recovery is on its way. That's good news for state and local revenues.
October 31, 2009
The True Cost of Treating Diabetes
Here's the problem. The number of Americans who have diabetes is growing at an alarming rate, as are the medical costs of treating the disease:...
How to Win an Income-Tax Hike
For Columbus' mayor, it was a last resort. Getting the voters on board took a lot of groundwork.
Making the Most of Muni Bonds
With interest rates about as low as they can go, this is turning out to be a very good time for governments to borrow.
September 30, 2009
Soda: the New Front in the War on Obesity
Put down that can. The sweet soda in front of you may be frosty and cold and just waiting to quench your thirst, but it...
Time for a Fat Tax?
The anti-obesity forces want to target soda pop and other sugary drinks. Two experts review the pros and cons.
In This Economy, Less-Bad News is Good News
There are hints the recession is turning around. But relief for states and cities will take a lot longer.
August 31, 2009
For California's New Pension Chief, a Huge Burden
When he headed up the Washington State Investment Board, Joe Dear oversaw a $67 billion portfolio. Now that he's the new honcho at CalPERS, the California...
August 19, 2009
Opening Up Medicaid
There's a little joke that makes the rounds whenever Medicaid directors get together. It goes like this: If you've seen one state Medicaid program, you've...
The Case for Tax Cuts
No matter how bad things are, raising taxes now will hurt in the long run, argues one tax expert.
How Bad Is It?
It will be years before we know if this is the worst recession since World War II. But the signs point in that direction.
July 31, 2009
Defining Prevention
Prevention is getting a bad rap--a growing number of health economists and providers are casting doubt on the ability of preventive medicine to squeeze costs...
June 30, 2009
The End-of-Life Imperative
The president brought it up himself. He talked seriously to a New York Times reporter in May about end-of-life health care choices--the tremendous drain they...
May 31, 2009
Diplomas Keep the Doctor Away
When it comes to surviving the swine flu, Texans, Californians and folks in other states along our southern border have fared better than their neighbors...
April 30, 2009
Find Me the Money
Winter Haven, Florida, imposes an accident- response fee-for services rendered when police officers and firefighters ride to the rescue. Wisconsin triples the price of its...
April 30, 2009
Full Interviews with User-Fee Experts
What will they think of next? Winter Haven, Florida, is imposing an accident response fee -- for services rendered when police officers and firefighters come...
The Pension Footprint
Just about every state and local public pension is back on its heels, experiencing major portfolio and prestige losses and cost threats. That's why it's pleasantly diverting to see a new study on the economic impact of state and local pension plans.
February 28, 2009
Creative Disruption
The current buzzword among MBA grads is "disruptive innovation." It may sound like a term to use when all hell is breaking loose. But what...
January 31, 2009
A Break in the Levy
As state and local revenue sources go, the property tax always has been the steady one. Its cousins -- the income and sales taxes --...
Care Calculations
Home-based care can keep the elderly out of nursing homes. But that isn't stopping some states from making cuts in the program.
Home Calls
A new idea is being touted as the next cure-all for the ills of the health care system. But it's not clear yet what a 'medical home' is.
July 31, 2008
Public Pension Prowess
CalPERS is a very big fish. When California's $250 billion employee pension plan flexes its muscle in boardrooms, corporate CEOs sit up and take notice. When...
Massachusetts Lite
Florida's new health-coverage law is health reform on the cheap, and that's not said to denigrate it.
The Insurance Lottery
When states subsidize health insurance, the hardest part is deciding whom to help and who goes without.
March 31, 2008
Muni Machinations
Blame it on Orange County. Back in 1994, the huge California county filed for bankruptcy after losing billions of dollars on a risky investment in financial...
Medicaid's New Math
Can a little cost-cutting actually improve the quality of health care? Two states are trying to find out.
The Prescription Proscription
Many states are making it hard for data-mining companies to use Rx information for marketing purposes.
December 1, 2007
Tilting Tills: A So-So Season for Revenue
State tax collections had a strong case of the milds in the second quarter of 2007--a 6.1 percent increase in tax revenue, compared to the same quarter of 2006. That said, this nominal growth rate, as measured by the Rockfeller Institute's "State Revenue Report," was weak by long-term historical standards.
December 1, 2007
Primary Interest
The West Virginia legislature recently gave the thumbs up to a radical experiment in health care: doctor-run pay-in-advance plans that provide a family unlimited primary and urgent care for $125 a month. No insurance coverage is involved.
November 1, 2007
Common-Sense Compliance
Having worked on both sides, Coughlin is passionate in his belief in the assisted-living philosophy, and that belief drives the way he approaches regulation. A key part of assisted living, he points out, is a resident's right to autonomy, but autonomy poses safety risks.
October 31, 2007
The Coverage Conundrum
They're on the rise - again. Health insurance premiums are up 6.1 percent on average this year - a relatively modest increase - but overall they're 78...
October 31, 2007
Going after GASB
When public finance officers met this summer in Anaheim, their association's outgoing president kicked off the convention with an all-out assault on an accounting board....
August 31, 2007
Health Court Advantage
Get ready for a medical malpractice crisis. The roiling stock market could drag down earnings on investment portfolios: If it does, insurance companies that issue...
Lean but Mean Medicaid
It's one thing to use the carrot to encourage healthy behavior. It's
another to use the stick--especially on children.
June 30, 2007
A System in Collapse
Picture this: Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell comes to the nation's capital to tell a gathering of health care advocates, health industry representatives and health writers...
April 30, 2007
Medicaid's Breaking Point
Language is powerful. So when a negative word becomes linked to an idea or program, the result often is damaging.
That's what I see happening...
April 1, 2007
The Muni Market's New Look
Changes are afoot--some welcome, others less so.
February 28, 2007
Dialogue in the Delta
It isn't a strong economy that produces healthy people. It's healthy people that produce a strong economy." Peter Johnson is standing in a meeting room...
February 1, 2007
Rough Sea's
There's a new and higher level of strain in the already-tense
relationship between GASB and state and local officials.
February 1, 2007
Risk Relief: Indiana Aims to Insure Good Health
A growing number of states and localities are turning to incentives to
move the employees they insure into healthier lifestyles. Indiana is
going one step further. It is trying to target employees who are at
risk for illnesses and offering them special services to improve their
odds of staying healthy.
Health Court Advantage
The current system of blame and lawsuits is no way to deal with medical errors.
December 31, 2006
Rx Side Effects
Talk about impact. One day Wal-Mart is launching a small pilot program in Tampa to sell 314 generic drugs at $4 each for a 30-day supply. Two...
December 1, 2006
McMedical Care
The rise of health clinics in retail stores could affect both health
policy and regulation.
The Biological Boom
As biologic drugs enter the mainstream, they could break the Medicaid
bank--and the health care system.
October 1, 2006
Pension Pressures
These are threatening times for retirement funds and retirees.
Guess Who's Coming to the ER?
It turns out that lower-income people are not the ones clogging up emergency rooms.
A Dose of Transparency
State-sponsored Web sites are enabling consumers to compare hospital and physician prices and performance.
Risk Reduction
Government-backed reinsurance could make health coverage more
affordable for the middle class.
March 1, 2006
The Job of Patients
Health savings accounts can spur consumers to shop for the best care
at the lowest price. But these insurance plans also carry a lot of
risk.
Capping Medicaid Costs
Florida and Kentucky are custom-tailoring the benefits package in an
effort to make fiscal sense of the program.
Talk of the Town
It's time to walk people through the choices they have to make in
order to get health care that works for everyone.
Drowning In Choices
Under Florida's newly approved waiver, Medicaid patients will have to
slog through all the fine print that is a health insurance plan.
September 1, 2005
Wellness: Carrots and Sticks
There's danger in expecting wellness programs to work miracles and
abandoning them when they don't.
August 1, 2005
From the Top: Michael Leavitt Speaks Up and Out
A few weeks ago, Governing sat down with Michael Leavitt, the U.S.
Health and Human Services secretary and former governor of Utah, to
talk about changes that could be in store for the Medicaid program.
Here are some key points he made.
Medicaid on the Ramparts
It's time for the states to break down Congress's door with some basic
solutions to the sustainability problem.
Nexium's Start Turn
As TV ads hype the demand for costly brand-name drugs, those who pay
Medicaid's pill bill are fighting back.
March 1, 2005
Setting Limits on Medicaid
From TennCare's end to Florida's proposed new beginning, state
Medicaid programs are working through difficult times.
Adjusting for Age
A new accounting rule could seriously undermine the health insurance
that states and localities provide to their retirees.
California Dreamin'
Piecemeal reforms show the unwillingness of policy makers to take bold
steps to deal with the nation's health care crisis.
December 1, 2004
Is Bigger Better?
Muni Bond Numbers Decline and Fall
November 1, 2004
Elder Scare
Health care costs for retirees are like a hurricane that's gathering
strength in the ocean before it makes landfall.
November 1, 2004
Maine's Medical Gamble
Can broader insurance coverage bring health care costs under control?
One state is betting on it.
September 1, 2004
Nascent Patient Power
A new approach to cutting health care costs may end up transferring
medical risk to consumers.
July 1, 2004
Tenncare Tensions
Governor Bredesen aims to save TennCare, but one of his fixes flies in
the face of a cherished national notion.
June 1, 2004
A Mixed Picture
Bond rating experts at odds on state of states
May 1, 2004
A Cure for Costs
rising price of health care.
March 1, 2004
The Weight Line
States have a fiscal link to the obesity crisis--it accounts for 5
percent of their overall medical spending.
January 1, 2004
Healing Health Care
The times may be ripe to form new--and surprising--alliances to solve
the crisis in health insurance.
December 1, 2003
Junkyard Blues: Pittsburgh's Fiscal Problems Run It Down
Credit downgrades happen all the time: The economy turns sour, budgets are stressed, the powers that be don't want to raise taxes or slash spending.
December 1, 2003
Setting Up A New Shop
Oregon's former governor is pushing a rational way to control drug
costs.
November 1, 2003
The 'Medmal' Mess
When it comes to reducing medical errors, assessing blame is less
effective than identifying patterns and steps to correct problems.
November 1, 2003
Bad News Bear
Investment markets can falter. When they do, pension bonds can become
a very risky business.
September 1, 2003
Online Privacy
There's no going back. Money may be short, some basic services may be in a funding freefall, but online government is a way of life. "No one would dispute that information technology has become the backbone of commerce," wrote Nicholas G. Carr (next page) in a recent Harvard Business Review article.
September 1, 2003
Rolling Medicaid Rules
Several states made changes in their Medicaid and SCHIP programs that
will, in effect, push children off the rolls.
July 1, 2003
The Pros of Cons
The assault on certificates of need, put in place decades ago to
control health costs, couldn't come at a worse time.
June 1, 2003
Low Grades for Deficit Financing
Sixteen states are on Moody's Investors Service negative outlook and four on negative watch, with "future credit deterioration likely," according to Robert Kurtter, senior vice president of state ratings for the credit-rating agency. Moody's had already downgraded eight states in the past two years.
May 1, 2003
Blocking Erisa
For decades, a federal law has obstructed state innovation on private
health care coverage. That's finally changing.
May 1, 2003
Easing The Pain
To blunt the impact of deep Medicaid cuts, a few states are
experimenting with ways to control the program's costs.
March 1, 2003
The Universal Cause
There's a dagger at the heart of any solution to the crisis in health care costs--but it's not the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs. Rather, it's the uninsured: the 41 million Americans--one in seven-- who can't afford, aren't offered or choose not to carry health insurance.
March 1, 2003
The Universal Cause
Several health insurance companies have stepped up to say they intend
to promote universal health care coverage.
January 1, 2003
Can Schip Stay Afloat?
By touting its success, advocates hope to spare the children's health
insurance program from the budget ax.
November 1, 2002
A Dose of Downgrades
Wall Street's opinion of state debt has been heading south this year.
Local ratings may not be far behind.
September 1, 2002
The Pension Offensive
Public pension officials are getting aggressive about holding
companies accountable for portfolio losses.
July 1, 2002
The Untaxables
Before Congress revisits the Internet-sales issue, states are
developing a simpler and more uniform tax-collection process.
May 1, 2002
Deficit Deluge
It's been a shallow recession, yet states and their budgets are in big
trouble.
March 1, 2002
More Over Nasdaq, Muni Bond Prices Are Now Online
A Web site launched in January is a big breakthrough for both investors in and issuers of municipal bonds. The site offers the closest thing yet to a real-time "ticker tape" on bond prices.
March 1, 2002
The HIPAA Headache
It's complex, costly and confusing. Most states are still trying to figure out what the law that standardizes electronic health data is all about.
January 1, 2002
A Bond That Breaks New Ground
Massachusetts and New Mexico made news three years ago when they issued bonds for construction projects and promised to repay the loans with federal highway grants they had coming their way. Now, Chicago has come to market with a variation on the grant-anticipation theme.
December 1, 2001
Drug Deals: A Pact to Lower State Employee Pill Prices
Driven by the effect of rising drug prices on state budgets, seven
states are banding together to change the way they buy pharmaceuticals
for their employee-benefit plans.
November 1, 2001
The Muni Market Gets a Boost
After years of benign neglect, the municipal bond market is back in
the spotlight. Falling interest rates, a volatile stock market and a
weakening economy created a resurgence of interest in both issuing and
buying muni bonds in the first three quarters of the year.
May 1, 2001
Muni Days are Here Again
A reinvigorated municipal bond market is attracting investors, as well
as helping issuers lower their costs.
July 1, 2000
Ups and Downs in the Rating Game
If you've been to Fitch for a credit rating, you may find your bonds experiencing grade inflation.
June 1, 2000
The HMO Laid Low
Two-thirds of managed care companies are losing money. When they get
in trouble, states often get in trouble as well.
January 1, 2000
Tobacco Bonds Draw a Market
New York City inhaled deeply and issued the first-ever tobacco bond in November. The $709 million bond, part of a $2.8 billion debt the city will sell in the next four years, sold out immediately.