Altman raises post-coronavirus health policy questions

Drew Altman, PhD, president and chief executive officer of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), highlighted a set of questions emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic and called on the health policy community to begin the work of answering them. In the short term, Altman asked how the crisis will affect insurance coverage, health spending, outcomes related to elective procedures and the economic stability of hospitals and medical practices. Altman also pointed to the challenge of addressing health care disparities while underscoring risks to the entire country and asked what opportunities for transforming health care might emerge from the crisis. Finally, Altman pointed to long-term questions related to public health, mental health and the steps that can be taken to “avoid a similar catastrophe” in the future. (KFF story, 5/21/20)