Strategy and policy development is a key focus of the Institute's work. We assist policy makers at all levels of government, and work with other interested parties where appropriate, in developing and assessing strategies and policy options for expanding coverage to the uninsured and addressing other health care system problems.

Policy analysis and development takes place at many different levels-from consideration of broad, strategic alternatives to development of specific policies to support practical implementation. IHPS has experience across this entire range.

In our work over many years, we have developed extensive expertise in several particular policy areas, including:

• Coverage of Uninsured Workers and Families
• Purchasing pools for small employers and individuals
• Reaching small-firm workers
• Insurance market reforms
• Local children's coverage programs
• Premium assistance

In each of these areas, we are particularly well equipped to carry out policy analysis and development from broad strategy to practical implementation.

For example, one of our earliest projects was Health Care Financing Reform to Cover the Uninsured: A Guide to Joint Public and Private Financing Strategies (Dec 1992). This report was intended to help policy makers and analysts understand and assess, at the most strategic level, a broad range of proposals that would use alternative structures to combine public and private financing and administration of health coverage.

Considering alternative ways of attaining coverage by and for all^SM is another example of policy development at the strategic level.

As an example of policy analysis at the more micro level, we have prepared many published reports and advised several States about alternative program policies for implementing premium assistance programs. Click here for more projects.