Archive for July 2012
Seeking nominations for CT thought leaders
We are refreshing our invitation list for the CT Health Thoughtleader Survey. The survey has been cited by policymakers as a tool in evaluating our state’s progress toward reform. It is part of our CT Health Reform Dashboard. To keep the list robust and ensure a broad reach, we are seeking nominations for the survey.…
Read MoreCT Health Intern Academy
Last week’s CT Health Intern Academy offered dozens of interns, job changers and volunteers basics and skills to navigate CT’s health care landscape. The day-long conference featured talks by Kevin Lembo (State Comptroller), Pat Baker (CT Health Foundation), Johnny Scafidi (Dwight Hall at Yale), Vicki Veltri (State Healthcare Advocate), Amy Gagliardi (CHC, Inc.), Kevin Galvin…
Read MoreHealth Insurance Exchange Board recommends standards for benefit package
Last week, the CT Health Insurance Exchange Board voted on their recommendation for the benchmark essential health benefit (EHB) package that must be offered in 2014 by all individual and small group plans, both inside and outside the Exchange, under national health reform. Federal regulators granted states the ability to define the EHB package, within…
Read MoreOHA saves CT consumers $2.4 million in last quarter, 99% of state employees HEP-compliant, and HUSKY/Charter Oak member forums scheduled
The Office of Health Care Advocate reported today saving consumers $2.4 million from April through last month. OHA provides assistance and support to CT consumers struggling with insurance. 85% of OHA consumer cases result in overturning insurer denials of coverage. The Office of State Comptroller announced Tuesday that over 99% of the 53,000 state employees…
Read MoreKaiser: 10 things you didn’t know were in the ACA
Postpartum depression, privacy for nursing mothers and assisted suicide are all addressed in the ACA. Go to today’s Kaiser Health News to find seven more issues you probably missed in reading all 906 pages.
Read MoreWhy recessions are good for our health
Honest, more people die during economic expansions than recessions. Economists aren’t sure why but they have theories, according to a paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research. More working hours during good times may mean we don’t exercise as much and eat less healthy food. In recessions traffic and pollution are lower, possibly improving…
Read MoreExchange Navigator Committee moves into recommendations
Yesterday the CT Health Insurance Exchange Brokers, Agents, and Navigators Committee started the hard work of developing a structure and defining roles for the Navigator Program. Navigators will educate and help enroll potential individual and small business exchange, and Medicaid enrollees. Under the ACA and federal regulations, navigators must have demonstrated ability to reach those…
Read MoreCT gets a Medicare Accountable Care Organization
Today CMS announced 89 new approved Medicare shared savings Accountable Care Organization applicants, including MPS ACO Physicians in CT. Prior to today, CT had no approved Medicare ACOs. Other CT organizations have reportedly recently submitted ACO applications. The Medicare ACO program, created in the Affordable Care Act, is designed to improve access and coordination of…
Read MoreCT Health Intern conference July 24th
Breaking into Health: Tapping into Skills and Experience, is designed for anyone interested in breaking into CT’s health landscape to gain valuable skills from health professionals working in the real world of health care and policy. The free conference will be July 24th from 10am to 4pm at the Divinity School at Yale, is co-sponsored…
Read MoreThe ACA and what it means for CT consumers
While we are all celebrating the Supreme Court upholding the Affordable Care Act, consumers want to know what it means in the real world. The CT Health I-Team has a great piece answering just that question.
Read More