News and Publications

Professor Jacob Hacker testified before the House Education and Labor Committee at a June 23, 2009 hearing on the forthcoming draft proposal for health care reform developed by the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor Committees.  Professor Hacker's testimony focuses on why the “public-private hybrid” approach embodied in the tri-committee draft legislation is vital to ensuring accountability in American health insurance, and in particular on the need for a public health insurance that will compete with private plans. He also emphasizes the constructive role that employers can play in providing or helping to finance coverage so that affordable insurance is available to all Americans through the workplace connection. Download his testimony here.

Prescription for Success: Lessons from California for National Health Reform (June 2009)
Melissa A. Rodgers and Jacob S. Hacker analyze California's recent experience with comprehensive health reform and offer ten lessons from California that are essential to the success of national health reform. Download the brief here.

10 Lessons for National Health Care Reform (San Francisco Chronicle, June 23, 2009)
Berkeley CHEFS associate director Melissa Rodgers argues that national policymakers have much to learn from California’s recent attempt at health reform and that success depends on quick action.  She offers ten lessons from California that are essential to the success of national health reform.
Download the op-ed here.

How to Structure a "Play-or-Pay" Requirement on Employers: Lessons from California for National Health Reform (June 2009)
In a new health reform policy brief by Berkeley CHEFS and the UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education, Ken Jacobs and Jacob S. Hacker examine the policy design, economic effects, and political ramifications of employer requirements.
Download the brief here.

Maria Shriver to collaborate with CHEFS and Executive Director Ann O'Leary
We are proud to say that CHEFS will be collaborating with Maria Shriver on a new project which will aim to assess the status of women in government, business, faith institutions and healthcare. The "Shriver Report" will be a collaboration between Shriver and the Center for American Progress, CHEFS, and Time magazine to explore the current condition of U.S. women with a particular emphasis on the economic downturn's impact.  Read more about the project by clicking here.

Healthy Competition: How to Structure Public Health Insurance Plan Choice to Ensure Risk-Sharing, Cost Control, and Quality Improvement (April 2009)
Download here

The Case for Public Plan Choice in National Health Reform: Key to Cost Control and Quality Coverage (December 2008)
Download here