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Dorothy Rice, Pioneering Economist Who Made Case for Medicare, Dies at 94 Dorothy Rice, Pioneering Economist Who Made Case for Medicare, Dies at 94
(3 days later)
Dorothy Rice, a pioneering government economist and statistician whose research about the need of the aged for health insurance helped make the case for the passage of Medicare in 1965, died on Feb. 25 in Oakland, Calif. She was 94.Dorothy Rice, a pioneering government economist and statistician whose research about the need of the aged for health insurance helped make the case for the passage of Medicare in 1965, died on Feb. 25 in Oakland, Calif. She was 94.
Her son Tom said the cause was complications of a broken hip resulting from a fall.Her son Tom said the cause was complications of a broken hip resulting from a fall.
Mrs. Rice was an analyst at the Social Security Administration when its study on aging highlighted how about half the population 65 and over had no health insurance — and that those who needed it most were the least likely to be able to afford it.Mrs. Rice was an analyst at the Social Security Administration when its study on aging highlighted how about half the population 65 and over had no health insurance — and that those who needed it most were the least likely to be able to afford it.
The 8.5 million uninsured older people, she wrote in 1964 in Social Security Bulletin, “include disproportionate numbers of the very old — particularly women — those in poor health, and those no longer engaged in full-time employment.”The 8.5 million uninsured older people, she wrote in 1964 in Social Security Bulletin, “include disproportionate numbers of the very old — particularly women — those in poor health, and those no longer engaged in full-time employment.”
The high cost of hospital and nursing home care, she added, “presents special problems for the aged because of their large and often unexpected bills.”The high cost of hospital and nursing home care, she added, “presents special problems for the aged because of their large and often unexpected bills.”
Through her work “people really came to understand the needs of the Medicare population,” said Karen Davis, a professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, “and really contributed to the popularity of the program.”Through her work “people really came to understand the needs of the Medicare population,” said Karen Davis, a professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, “and really contributed to the popularity of the program.”
Nearly a half-century later, Mrs. Rice watched as the Affordable Care Act was rolled out and expressed her hope that it would start as smoothly as Medicare did.Nearly a half-century later, Mrs. Rice watched as the Affordable Care Act was rolled out and expressed her hope that it would start as smoothly as Medicare did.
“We were told in the Social Security Administration,” she said in 2013, “that we should come to work on that weekend when Medicare went into effect because we were going to have the doors knocked down by all these elderly sick people. And you know what happened? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”“We were told in the Social Security Administration,” she said in 2013, “that we should come to work on that weekend when Medicare went into effect because we were going to have the doors knocked down by all these elderly sick people. And you know what happened? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
In government service, where she rose to director of the National Center for Health Statistics, and in academia, at the University of California, San Francisco, Mrs. Rice created innovative methodologies to estimate the costs of treating people with heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, disabilities and strokes. “You name a disease,” she once said, “I did a study on it.”In government service, where she rose to director of the National Center for Health Statistics, and in academia, at the University of California, San Francisco, Mrs. Rice created innovative methodologies to estimate the costs of treating people with heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, disabilities and strokes. “You name a disease,” she once said, “I did a study on it.”
Barbara Cooper, her former assistant and later the director of Medicare’s office of strategic planning, said that early on Mrs. Rice developed a way to calculate the economic toll of illnesses on women working as homemakers — a measure that at first required that she put a value on what they earned.Barbara Cooper, her former assistant and later the director of Medicare’s office of strategic planning, said that early on Mrs. Rice developed a way to calculate the economic toll of illnesses on women working as homemakers — a measure that at first required that she put a value on what they earned.
“It was a way to value their lost time and productivity,” Ms. Cooper said in an interview. She said that Mrs. Rice’s creativity in devising new approaches to research met little or no resistance from senior officials.“It was a way to value their lost time and productivity,” Ms. Cooper said in an interview. She said that Mrs. Rice’s creativity in devising new approaches to research met little or no resistance from senior officials.
“Everyone was thrilled with whatever she did,” she said.“Everyone was thrilled with whatever she did,” she said.
Dorothy Pechman Rice was born in Brooklyn on June 11, 1922. Her father, Gershon, was a textile laborer, and her mother, the former Lena Schiff, a homemaker. Mrs. Rice attended Brooklyn College for a year and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor’s degree in economics.Dorothy Pechman Rice was born in Brooklyn on June 11, 1922. Her father, Gershon, was a textile laborer, and her mother, the former Lena Schiff, a homemaker. Mrs. Rice attended Brooklyn College for a year and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor’s degree in economics.
She moved to Washington to start her government career as a statistical clerk for the Department of Labor, then worked as an economist at the United States Public Health Service and other federal offices.She moved to Washington to start her government career as a statistical clerk for the Department of Labor, then worked as an economist at the United States Public Health Service and other federal offices.
“If you were female and on the ball during World War II, you did well,” she told an interviewer in 2010. “And I did very well.”“If you were female and on the ball during World War II, you did well,” she told an interviewer in 2010. “And I did very well.”
She left the government for 11 years to raise her three sons with her husband, Jim, before returning to the Public Health Service in 1960 as analyst. She left again in 1982, frustrated by budget cuts that she felt would impede her research at the National Center for Health Statistics.She left the government for 11 years to raise her three sons with her husband, Jim, before returning to the Public Health Service in 1960 as analyst. She left again in 1982, frustrated by budget cuts that she felt would impede her research at the National Center for Health Statistics.
“She believed that data provided the facts we needed to make policy,” said Tom Rice, an economist and professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at U.C.L.A.“She believed that data provided the facts we needed to make policy,” said Tom Rice, an economist and professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at U.C.L.A.
Mrs. Rice continued her research at the School of Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco, where she participated in studies on the financial costs of cigarette smoking. One study — which estimated in 1998 that smoking-related illnesses cost Medicaid $12.9 billion a year ($19.2 billion today) — came out as tobacco companies and states were resolving litigation over the costs of smoking.Mrs. Rice continued her research at the School of Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco, where she participated in studies on the financial costs of cigarette smoking. One study — which estimated in 1998 that smoking-related illnesses cost Medicaid $12.9 billion a year ($19.2 billion today) — came out as tobacco companies and states were resolving litigation over the costs of smoking.
Based on the numbers in the study, Mrs. Rice told The Los Angeles Times, “I feel strongly that any global settlement with the tobacco industry should go beyond $368 billion.” It was eventually pared to about $250 million over 25 years. Based on the numbers in the study, Mrs. Rice told The Los Angeles Times, “I feel strongly that any global settlement with the tobacco industry should go beyond $368 billion.” It was eventually pared to about $250 billion over 25 years.
“Dorothy was passionate about everything, but she was particularly passionate about smoking,” said Wendy Max, a colleague at the University of California, San Francisco, who worked with her on various studies. “She really got a lot of people, including me, involved in the work.”“Dorothy was passionate about everything, but she was particularly passionate about smoking,” said Wendy Max, a colleague at the University of California, San Francisco, who worked with her on various studies. “She really got a lot of people, including me, involved in the work.”
In addition to her son Tom, Mrs. Rice is survived by two other sons, Kenneth and Donald; two sisters, Shirley Cohen and Rochelle Novins; and four grandchildren. Her husband, a government administrator, died in 2005. Her brother, Joseph A. Pechman, a leading tax policy expert and director of economic studies at the Brookings Institutions, died in 1989.In addition to her son Tom, Mrs. Rice is survived by two other sons, Kenneth and Donald; two sisters, Shirley Cohen and Rochelle Novins; and four grandchildren. Her husband, a government administrator, died in 2005. Her brother, Joseph A. Pechman, a leading tax policy expert and director of economic studies at the Brookings Institutions, died in 1989.
Jonathan Oberlander, author of “The Political Life of Medicare” (2003), called Mrs. Rice an “extraordinary researcher.” In an email he said her work on “health spending, tobacco and other subjects in medical economics influenced generations of health policy scholars and students.”Jonathan Oberlander, author of “The Political Life of Medicare” (2003), called Mrs. Rice an “extraordinary researcher.” In an email he said her work on “health spending, tobacco and other subjects in medical economics influenced generations of health policy scholars and students.”