Archive for February 2010
New webinar – Medical homes and payment reform in PA
On February 23rd at 1pm, the SustiNet Patient Centered Medical Home and Health Care Quality and Provider Committees will hear from Ann Torregrossa, director of the PA Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform, about her state’s progress implementing medical homes and payment reform. To register, go to https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/596582016 February 22nd at 3pm the SustiNet Health…
Read MoreNew Britain dentists providing children with free care this Friday
The New Britain Herald is reporting on several New Britain dental offices opening their offices this Friday to children who cannot afford care including screenings, cleanings and fillings. The “Give Kids a Smile” program was started by the American Dental Association in 2003 as part of National Children’s Dental Health Month. For information on participating…
Read MoreNew addition to the Book Club
What would happen if there was an earthquake in an American community, the Red Cross came into town and provided disaster relief, but a couple of months later everyone got a bill for those services, marked up tenfold, and people who couldn’t pay were sued? There would be outrage; it wouldn’t be tolerated. But that…
Read MorePCCM forum highlights DSS barriers to implementation
Friday the Appropriations Committee heard about DSS’ lack of progress in implementing the PCCM option for HUSKY passed into law three years ago. The panel included Dr. Patrick Alvino, a pediatrician practicing in Branford, who would like to participate but because PCCM is not statewide he and his 2,000 patients do not have the option.…
Read MoreWhy we need patient centered medical homes
Government is taking over health care
Sometime next year government will overtake all other payers and fund more than half of all US health care, according to actuaries at CMS. Last year health care consumed 17.3% of our economy, the largest one year climb since 1960. We spent $282 million per hour last year on health care. Just government’s share of…
Read MoreGovernor’s budget proposal – lots of cuts and a plan to reform HUSKY HMOs
In her budget proposal released yesterday, the Governor proposed shifting the current HUSKY HMOs away from capitation back to a non-risk arrangement. For a few months in early 2008, the Governor ordered a similar switch from capitation to an Administrative Services Organization (ASO)-model, in which the HMOs administered the program for DSS but passed all…
Read MoreFree clinic makes a difference
Yesterday’s massive free health clinic at the CT Convention Center in Hartford had provided care to 700 uninsured people in just the first three hours. Almost 1,100 people signed up to volunteer. The clinic was run by the National Association of Free Clinics; CT has over a dozen free clinics providing care to the uninsured.…
Read MoreFebruary webquiz – PCCM/HUSKY Primary Care
Test your knowledge about CT’s PCCM program — HUSKY Primary Care. Take the February CT Health Policy Webquiz. This month’s quiz was developed by Sabina Klein, CTHPP Student Fellow and soon-to-graduate Yale senior. Sabina is one of the “army” of students/volunteers working to get out the word about this exciting new option for HUSKY families.…
Read MorePCCM update for Appropriations Committee
Friday from 10am to 1pm at the Legislative Office Building the Appropriations Committee will receive a report from DSS about their progress in implementing PCCM/HUSKY Primary Care. Following the department’s report will be a panel including physicians, a consumer, and this advocate about the program.Ellen Andrews
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