Archive for May 2009
Governor’s latest budget proposal includes cuts to health care
Governor Rell’s latest budget proposal includes cuts to health care programs including $50 million in FY 2010 and $52m in FY 2011 (6%) cuts to HMO capitation rates in HUSKY resulting from an audit of those rates by the Office of State Comptroller ($19m and $23m net savings to the state after accounting for the…
Read MoreNew from Health Affairs –6.9 million more uninsured Americans by 2010, MA reform benefits continue, and cost does not equal quality in health care
Study predicts US uninsured to grow to 52 million by the end of next year A study published today predicts that due to rising health care costs, by the end of 2010 another 6.9 million Americans will be uninsured, bringing the rate to 19.2%. For every 1% increase in health costs relative to income, another…
Read MoreWSJ blog highlights uninsured people forming small businesses to get health insurance
The Wall Street Journal reports today on a little-known option for coverage – forming a business and buying group coverage, even for groups as small as one person. Luckily CT is one of the states that allows small group coverage for groups of one and requires insurers to offer coverage to all small groups (guaranteed…
Read MoreNew Kaiser website tracks national health reform developments
Kaiser’s new Health Reform site helps track the sometimes confusing national health reform picture. It organizes resources from across their site including policy papers, polls, history and a calendar. My favorite feature allows you to compare the various versions being considered on key characteristics including an individual mandate, employer requirement and expansion of public programs.…
Read MoreConsumers share of health care costs to increase 7.4% next year
The 2009 Milliman Medical Index predicts that the typical cost of health care for a US family of four will rise to $16,771 on average. Milliman estimates that the total cost of coverage for a average household of four, even if there are no claims, will consume 8% of income. Workers will pay 41% of…
Read MoreSustiNet bill passes the House
The SustiNet bill, HB-6600, overwhelmingly passed the House last night 107 to 35. The bill creates a volunteer SustiNet Board of Directors to design and develop concrete steps to achieve health care reform including affordable coverage options for everyone, improving the health care delivery system, addressing chronic disease and significant prevention and wellness programs and…
Read MoreNY medical home provides impressive, efficient care
Yesterday I visited the Queens-Long Island Medical Group office in Flushing, NY. The office is the first NCQA-accredited patient centered medical home in the US. Flushing is a colorful, bustling community; 70% of community residents are Asian. Despite the swine flu outbreak, the office was quiet and calm as it was on my first visit…
Read MoreDodd/DeLauro health reform event
Saturday Sen. Dodd and Rep. DeLauro hosted a well-attended town hall discussion on national health care reform at Griffin Hospital in Derby. Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director of the White House Office of Health Reform, was the invited speaker. It was good theater, but there was little concrete information about what they are considering, how it might…
Read MoreSustiNet Day at the Capitol
Wednesday was SustiNet Day at the Capitol, where hundreds of supporters gathered to show they are in favor of SustiNet and health care reform. Participants wore red t-shirts from the healthcare4every1 campaign with the campaign’s logo on the front and “SustiNet: Health Care We Can Count on” printed on the back. Participants sat in the…
Read MoreWe need your feedback — Opt in/out policy option for eHealthCT health information exchange
eHealth Connecticut, a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging the secure exchange of health information in our state, is working with DSS to implement a pilot health information exchange for Medicaid patients. As part of that pilot project, the CT Health Policy Project is working with eHealth Connecticut to develop a privacy and security policy for…
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