Policy Research

Survey published by the New England Journal of Medicine shows strong physician support for mixed public-private proposal.

The slideshow highlights key findings from the RWJF survey of physician views on the public health insurance option and Medicare expansions.

This slide shows respondents were less likely to be female (26.8% vs. 31.2%, p<0.001) and were older on average by one year.

Physician Views on the Public Health Insurance Option and Medicare Expansions.

This slide shows that overall, a majority of physicians (62.9%) supported the public-private option while 27.3% supported a private-only coverage options and 9.6% supported a public-only coverage option.

This slide shows that overall 58.3% of physicians support Medicare expansions to individuals 55 to 64 years of age.

This slide shows that despite support for Medicare expansions and for a public option similar in design to Medicare, physicians preferred private plans to the traditional Medicare program in three areas.

This slide shows support for the inclusion of a public option was demonstrated across all demographic characteristics, specialties, practice locations (census division or urban vs. rural setting) and practice types.

Four focus group discussions were held with Consumer Voices for Coverage (CVC) grantees and leadership team members attending the program’s annual grantee meeting in September 2008.

To establish alliances that could advance the goals of the Consumer Voices for Coverage (CVC) initiative and outlive it, RWJF required applicants to form a leadership team of partner organizations to mobilize the consumer advocacy network within their states. Mathematica, Inc. designed a survey to collect data about the structure and activities of the leadership teams.