public health
CTNJ: Public Health has a Free Rider Problem
Public health is the best deal on the planet. Connecticut spends only $29 per person, less than most states, on public health but $9,859 on healthcare services, more than most states. But Connecticut expects our under-funded public health system to solve this intractable health problem while all the savings go to the inefficient healthcare system…
Read MoreCT up to third healthiest state this year
According to America’s Health Ranking, Connecticut is the third healthiest state in the union this year, up from fifth last year. We are doing far better than our 13th ranking in 1992 but down from 2nd in 2008 and 2006. The ranking by the United Health Foundation has compared states on 34 health indicators since…
Read MoreYNHH, clinics respond to state questions on primary care plan
Yesterday Yale-New Haven Hospital responded to questions from the state prompted by community and advocate concerns at a recent public hearing about their controversial plans to shift primary care for 28,500 people. Technically patients at the new YNHH site would be attributed to the Fairhaven and Cornell Scott-Hill health centers for billing purposes but would…
Read MoreMore press and a defense on YNHH, clinics plan for New Haven primary care
Both concerns and support were raised at the public hearing about the proposal to close Yale-New Haven’s primary care clinics, move patients and YNHH clinicians to a more distant site, but technically transfer 28,500 patients to the Fairhaven and Cornell Scott Hill health centers. CTHPP testified with concerns about potentially substantial new costs to the…
Read MoreCT hospitals report $1.6 billion in community benefits, but most of that is claims of Medicaid underpayment
Yesterday’s Healthcare Cabinet meeting focused on CT nonprofit hospital community benefit reports to the IRS. Last year, CT hospitals claimed $1.6 billion in community benefits, but over half of that (57%) are claims of Medicaid underpayment. Charity care provided to patients unable to pay for their services constituted 21% of total charity care; health professional…
Read MoreCTNJ op-ed: Health disparities are real and new payment schemes are probably making them worse
Connecticut is a very healthy place; we rank fifth healthiest among states. But not all state residents share in that good fortune; too many suffer from health inequities. Very good people across the state are doing important work promoting better health for everyone. However some emerging policies, both government and private sector, are working at…
Read MoreCT excels at getting Medicaid-eligible families enrolled
A new study finds that 96.3% of CT children eligible for HUSKY participated in the program in 2016; we are tied for seventh among states. The US average is 93.7% for all states; 94.9% for states, like CT, that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Even better, CT ranks fourth among states in enrolling…
Read MoreRash of New Haven overdoses the latest in a growing CT problem
The New Haven Register is reporting that there’ve been 80 overdoses on the Green in the last two days. Two patients overdosed three times each Wednesday. It was ongoing earlier this afternoon. DPH delivered 50 more doses of naloxone to city first responders and is facilitating communications between city agencies. DMHAS has engaged mental health…
Read MoreGood news – FDA committee reviewing lots more antibiotics
The best news from this week’s FDA Anti-Microbial Advisory Committee meeting was that there are a lot of meetings. A busy committee means that they have more antibiotics to review. The race against drug-resistant superbugs has reduced incentives for drug companies to develop antibiotics. These drugs cost as much to develop as others but are…
Read MoreCTNJ: Capitation vs. fee for service: Which team are you on?
is a sharp divide within Connecticut’s healthcare community over how to pay for care that’s as fervent as the Yankees vs. Red Sox split. Some believe that capitation is the holy grail, but others believe that fee for service isn’t the problem and isn’t broken. Read more
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