Why the Institute
for Health Freedom (IHF)?
Freedom is the foundation of American society and
is viewed as a constitutional right. But when it comes
to choosing health care and maintaining health privacy, the individual's freedom
has been restricted by burdensome regulations.
For example, have you ever wondered why you are
not free to choose your own health-care providers
and treatments, without needing to get pre-approval
from an insurance company or running up against some
burdensome regulation?
And have you ever wondered
why you can't visit a physician, dentist, or other
health care provider without having your personal
health information become accessible to more than
600,000 insurers, doctors, data processing companies,
and others—without your consent?
The Institute for Health Freedom was established in 1996
to bring the issues of personal health freedom to the
forefront of America's health policy debate. Our mission
is to present the ethical and economic case for strengthening
personal "health freedom," defined as:
The freedom to choose one's health care providers and treatments, and to maintain confidential relationships with one's providers, without interference from government or private third parties.
The Institute does not endorse any health care treatment,
product, provider, or organization. Rather, the Institute
for Health Freedom is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research
center—a Washington-based "think tank."
What Does IHF Do?
The Institute for Health Freedom publishes
Health Freedom Watch,
a monthly e-mail newsletter, to alert the public to regulations and
policies that affect individuals' right to make free choices about health care.
The Institute works with scholars
and policy experts in the areas of economics, health
care, law, philosophy, privacy, and the sciences to foster
public debate.
Through its research, publications, and public policy debates,
the Institute provides a forum for exchanging ideas
about health freedom issues.
The Institute's research and analyses
are published in policy briefings and disseminated
through newspaper editorials, television appearances,
radio interviews,
professional conferences, public meetings and the
IHF Web site.
Visit the IHF Web site for news, research papers,
and quick links to research resources. We provide
you with information about health freedom, and you
decide what to do with it!
About IHF's Founder and President
Sue A. Blevins is founder and president of the Institute
for Health Freedom, a nonpartisan, nonprofit Washington-based
think tank. She is a leading advocate and spokesperson
for consumers' freedom to choose their health care.
Ms. Blevins has appeared on television and radio shows
across the country to discuss health freedom issues.
She is author of the book Medicare's Midlife Crisis.
Her articles about health freedom have appeared in
major newspapers such as the Investor's Business
Daily, Wall Street Journal, and Washington
Times. Also, leading free-market think tanks have
published her research, including the Cato Institute
and the National Center for Policy Analysis.
Before founding the Institute, Ms. Blevins was a
Nonresidential Fellow at the Institute for Humane Studies
at George Mason University. During her fellowship,
she conducted original research to identify anti-competitive
barriers in health care. That research was published
by the Cato Institute in a Policy Analysis titled
"The
Medical Monopoly: Protecting Consumers or Limiting
Competition?" In 1995, Ms. Blevins served as a
consultant and primary author of a report for Governor
Weld's (Rep.-MA) Task Force on the Health Care Industry.
She has also served as a legislative analyst for the
National Institutes of Health and as a Congressional
Fellow for Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (Dem.-WV).
A former Registered Nurse, Ms. Blevins developed her
insights into the American and Canadian health care
systems through years of hands-on experience in both
of those countries.
She received a Master of Public Health degree from
Harvard University, and Master of Science and Bachelor
of Science degrees from Johns Hopkins University.
Ms. Blevins was awarded the Emma Jones Cullen Beckwith
Award (a monetary award) for highest standards of
nursing practice and executive ability from Johns
Hopkins University.
