A relevant universal coverage proposal

Karen Davis and Cathy Schoen offer a strategic vision for universal coverage that attempts to move beyond ideological battles that have stifled progress. However, I believe that there are a few specific shortcomings with the proposal's logic that could thwart political consensus. I review some of these shortcomings and make suggestions for incremental technical improvements. In particular, I suggest that future versions of the proposal consider administering the tax credits as a "passthrough" from the government through employers to individuals. I also believe that reform proposals should address more directly the issues of provider accountability and patient information needs.