The hottest Policy Solutions Substack posts right now

Insurance companies are not the real problem in the U.S. healthcare system. The high costs mainly come from medical providers, like hospitals and doctors, who charge a lot for their services.
Americans often experience frustration with insurance because they feel it denies their claims or doesn't cover costs. However, the insurers are only a small part of why healthcare is so expensive.
To make healthcare more affordable, the focus should be on reducing the high prices set by healthcare providers, not just blaming the insurance companies.

Small changes can lead to big improvements in the NHS, like having administrators handle tasks normally done by doctors, which can cut waiting times significantly.
Many missed hospital appointments could be avoided by improving text reminders and allowing patients to choose their own appointment times, which leads to better attendance rates.
Using simple tech solutions or AI to remind patients about appointments can really help reduce the number of people who don't show up, making the system work better for everyone.

Laws are crucial for solving collective action problems like those caused by social media companies exploiting users.
Historical examples show that coordinated efforts from various groups can solve complex issues like worker safety in factories.
Proposed social media reforms include content-based, age-gating, and design-based solutions to address harms, aiming for a more humane tech future.

US saw largest one-year increase in poverty rate in history, with child poverty doubling last year
Inflation and increased cost of living contributed to the rise in poverty levels
The White House and President Biden blamed congressional Republicans for the rise in child poverty, emphasizing the importance of support programs like EITC and CTC in reducing poverty

School shootings are a top safety concern for children, teens, college students, and parents, uniting them with a shared worry.
The number of school shootings is increasing each year, with 2023 projected to be significantly higher than previous years.
Gun-free school zones show a significant decrease in firearm crimes, indicating their effectiveness in promoting safety within school premises.

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In dealing with Covid-19, there is a need to balance between minimizing short-term costs and minimizing medium-term costs, which presents a conflict.
Flattening the curve is not enough to combat the pandemic effectively and can be very costly due to its impact on the health care system capacity.
To address the limitations of flattening the curve, there is a critical need for a dramatic, immediate increase in healthcare capacity like what was done in Wuhan, calling for a war-like mindset.