Health Care: Who Pays for the Uninsured? Many of the 41 million Americans without health insurance get health care from emergency rooms, clinics and other providers. The total cost is $77 billion. This total is made up of $35 billion in waived fees, $26 billion by fees paid by the uninsured, $14 billion paid by Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs, and $2 billion by Worker's compensation. Source: Urban Institute 2001 data cited in
Business Week, March 24, 2003, p. 18. (349)
posted by Lyle at 1:33 PM
K-12 Education: KIPP Schools Show Promise for Poor Districts. Pat Wingert and Barbara Kantorowitz wrote an article entitled: At The Top of the Class for the March 24, 2003
Newsweek on the Knowledge Is Power (KIPP) educational program. KIPP charter schools are in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Concept involves demanding academics, longer school days and homework assignments, and stricter discipline. In one Houston school, the percentage passing state standardized tests went from 50% to 98% in one year. Classes are 10 hours per day, alternate Saturdays and summers. Teachers have cell phones for 24/7 contact if students need help and students sign a pledge to abide by the school rules. The full article is in the March 24, 2003
Newsweek page 52. (348)
posted by Lyle at 3:56 PM
The Economy. U.S. Second in World in Per Capita Gross Domestic Product. After adjusting GDP per capita for cost of living differences, Norway ranks number one in the world in per capita GDP at almost $150,000 and the US ranks second at $145,000. Switzerland, Denmark and Canada complete the top five. (Source:
Economist, March 15, 2003, p. 100 based on OECD data). (347)
posted by Lyle at 3:08 PM
