As several states move to restrict certain SNAP purchases, Delaware has chosen not to limit items such as sugar-sweetened beverages. Medical research links obesity to higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, and rising health care costs—conditions already widespread in the state. With SNAP shaping dietary choices and Medicaid covering obesity treatment, this article explores whether aligning nutrition assistance and health policy could improve health outcomes and reduce long-

As the federal shutdown continues, most Delawareans won’t see changes in their health insurance premiums. The current debate in Washington only affects temporary ACA marketplace subsidies that help a small share of insured residents. Medicare, Medicaid, and employer-based coverage remain stable. Even if enhanced subsidies expire, higher rates would impact only some ACA enrollees. For most Americans, coverage and costs will stay the same. Learn more at CaesarRodney.org.

We commend Representative Valerie Longhurst's efforts to rein in hospital costs in Delaware. However, the creation of a "Hospital Review Board" in Substitute 1 for House Bill 350 will not succeed. The fundamental problem of high hospital costs in Delaware is due to a lack of competition. NOTE: Hospital costs are clearly the largest component of healthcare costs in Delaware, and they have been currently and historically excessive in comparison to those nationally and in nearby

Tragic Incentives and Transgender Medical Care By  Stacie Beck, Ph.D. ,  Associate Professor of Economics and   C.D. Casscells, M.D. Center for Health Policy at the Caesar Rodney Institute October 20, 2023     The 2011 burst in transgender medical treatments came shortly after the passage of the Affordable Care Act. This accelerated after passage of a non-discrimination federal Health and Human Services regulation on private insurance in 2016. The US experienced a dramatic in

The United States is experiencing an endemic health crisis. There is a regional outbreak (on both the East and West coasts) of young girls self-identifying as “trans.”   Previously, in 2018 , according to the U.S. National Health Interview Survey on sexual orientation, 97.3% of men and 96.8% of women identify as “straight,” 1.9% of men identify as “gay,” 1.4% of women identify as “lesbian,” and 0.8% of men and 1.8% of women identify as “bisexual.”   Also, recently, the Cent

As the hysteria wanes from almost three years of COVID-19, and we continue to suffer the collateral damage from the ill-advised lockdown policies, our need for a return to normal is shattered by the harsh data emerging from Fentanyl death statistics.     Nationally, there are now more daily Fentanyl deaths than COVID-19. Over the past three years, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there have been four times wherein the death toll rose to 140% of expected; Ap

ChristianaCare & Crozer Health Fall Out Explained By Dr. Christopher Casscells, M.D. Center for Health Policy at the Caesar Rodney Institute August 30, 2022     The second week of August 2022, the planned take-over of the Crozer Health (four hospitals in Delaware County, PA) by ChristianaCare (three hospitals, outpatient & other services in Delaware and Maryland) fell apart. The News Journal asked what happened, but nobody is talking. Other media sources vaguely referenced fi

Lockdowns Should Never be Allowed Again By Dr. Christopher Casscells, M.D. Center for Health Policy at the Caesar Rodney Institute August 18, 2022     In the early days of COVID-19, Delaware's Governor John Carney expressed his desire to avoid a legacy of being an example of "What NOT to do." With New York Governor Andrew Cuomo as his guidestar, he proceeded to do just that. Delaware's economy has suffered some sectors deeply, particularly its students, small businesses, the

Healthcare in Delaware can be improved By C.D. Casscells, MD   (pictured) Director of the Center for Health Policy (Originally published on Sunday, December 12, 2021 by Delaware State News.)     For multiple decades the people of Delaware have had limited access to healthcare at an expensive cost , with quality outcomes below the national average. According to a 2019 Health Affairs article published by former secretary of health and social services for the state of Delaware,

To read the abstract, please click the link below.   CLICK HERE to READ the full proposal for a Delaware Medicaid HSA Demonstration Project