Gail R Wilensky, PhD

About the Author

Gail R Wilensky, PhD

Latest Work

Spillover effects of COVID-19 portend growing challenge for hospitals

Far more attention has been paid to the direct effects of COVID-19 on the healthcare system, including on hospitals, than to its indirect effects on hospitals, which include the impact on care other than COVID-19-related care.

Gail R Wilensky, PhD November 24, 2020

Status check on Haven’s ambitious healthcare venture

The healthcare collaboration by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase, announced in January 2018, has encountered challenges in the past two years that have caused it to fall short of initial expectations.

Gail R Wilensky, PhD October 1, 2020

COVID-19 continues to play havoc with hospital financials

The U.S. hospitals face two significant pressures through the end of 2020: continuing spikes in COVID-19 admissions and, if the economic rebound falters, a rise in the numbers of patients who are uninsured or insurebd ny public insurance.

Gail R Wilensky, PhD July 31, 2020

Will the CARES Act actually reduce hospital financial stresses?

The COVID-19 crisis raises important questions for the U.S., including how it should prepare for the inevitable occurence of other potential serious pandemics in the future.

Gail R Wilensky, PhD April 27, 2020

Supreme Court’s decision to wait to hear ACA challenge benefits Republicans

Democrats appear to have a strong advantage over Republicans in having gained public trust regarding healthcare policy, so it may be in Republication's interest to steer clear of discussions of healthcare in the time leading up to the November 2020 election.

Gail R Wilensky, PhD March 2, 2020

Growth in healthcare spending garners little attention

Healthcare spending in the U.S. as shown signs of growth in recent years, but the recent strong economic growth may be the main reason the trend has gained little notice.

Gail R Wilensky, PhD January 2, 2020

Do the Democratic candidates for president see a role for private insurance?

Healthcare is a major defining issue in the campaigns of the Democratic candidates for president, but their positions differ, particularly with respect to private insurance.

Gail R Wilensky, PhD September 20, 2019

Primary Care First Model holds promise but faces challenges

CMS's Primary Care First Model aims to create incentives for primary care physicians to take on risk under value-based payment, but whether it will be successful remains to be seen.

Gail R Wilensky, PhD June 30, 2019

Making sense of Trump’s 2020 budget proposals for healthcare

Congress is almost certain not to accept president Trump’s proposed budget for FY20 with its cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, but he is not the first president to propose a budget that has little chance of being accepted.

Gail R Wilensky, PhD May 14, 2019

Efforts to Address Surprise Medical Billing Could Yield a Bipartisan Solution

The current political climate could pose a barrier to a solution for Congress solving surprise medical bills from providers outside of patients’ networks through legislation.

Gail R Wilensky, PhD February 26, 2019