Archive for August 2008
PCCM concept paper out
The concept paper for the state’s planned PCCM pilot has finally been delivered to the legislature. The Appropriations and Human Services Committees now have 30 days to hold a public hearing and approve, deny or make changes to the plan. PCCM is a way of running HUSKY without HMOs and will serve as another option…
Read MoreSad news
From Gary Spinner, COO of the Hill Health Center: “It is with great sadness that I let you know of the passing away of Cornell Scott, Hill Health Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer. Scotty passed away at noon today in Yale New Haven Hospital. He had been ill for a great deal of time, and the…
Read MoreNew Census numbers find uninsured largely unchanged in CT; many more buying insurance directly
In 2007, there were 326,000 uninsured CT residents, or one in eleven of us had no coverage – not significantly different from the 2006 numbers according to Census numbers released today. We had a good decrease in uninsured from 2005 to 2006 which has been stable. CT has the eighth best (lowest) uninsured rate in…
Read MoreCOHI seeking Executive Director
The CT Oral Health Initiative needs to hire a new Executive Director. For five years COHI has been advocating for better oral health for everyone. They have focused on access to dental care for CT’s underserved and education about the importance of oral health. COHI is seeking an experienced nonprofit leader who shares the organization’s…
Read MoreeHealthCT designated as a Chartered Value Exchange
Connecticut is entering the e-health big leagues! Yesterday, our own eHealthCT was designated as a Chartered Value Exchange by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. eHealthConnecticut is a not for profit entity incorporated in January 2006 and represents a collaborative approach to meeting the challenges of health information technology adoption and interoperability for the…
Read MoreDrama at the Medicaid Managed Care Council
Yesterday, the Council passed a resolution to recommend a delay in transitioning HUSKY families into the new HMOs and to freeze enrollment in Charter Oak until July 1st, 2009. The council was concerned that only a handful of providers have signed up with the two new plans, AmeriChoice and Aetna Better Health, and that patients…
Read MoreRetail Medical Clinics and Primary Care panels
Today’s panels at the CSG/ERC annual meeting explored retail clinics – opportunities and concerns – and primary care shortages. The clinic panel included Kim Rhodes from Take Care Clinics (owned by Walgreens) and Ken Ferrucci from the CT medical society. There are about 1000 retail clinics in the US, providing affordable access, including evenings and…
Read MoreState reform updates
I’ve been staffing the annual meeting of the Council of State Governments/Eastern Regional Conference health policy track meetings in Atlantic City, NJ. Today we heard updates from states at varying stages of reforming their health care systems – Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Jersey. Sen. Joseph Vitale described New Jersey’s comprehensive plan to cover all…
Read MoreCharter Oak/HUSKY troubles in the news
The current problems getting providers to participate in the new Charter Oak/HUSKY plans have been hot news lately. A sampling: The Day ctnewsjunkie.com Hartford Courant Journal Inquirer New Haven Register Waterbury Republican American Kaiser Daily Health Reports Medical News Today CT Post WTIC News Talk 1080 Fox News 61 News Channel 3 Norwich Bulletin According…
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