November, 2013 - CT Health Policy

SIM plan comments focus on protecting consumers

By Ellen Andrews | November 25, 2013 |

CT’s SIM draft plan to reform health care for at least 80% of state residents in five years is out for public comment. SIM is the state’s newest plan to radically reform health care delivery and payment across the entire state. Concerns raised in the CT Health Policy Project’s comments include potential incentives in the…

CT hospital ER waits longer than US average

By Ellen Andrews | November 21, 2013 |

Average waits at CT hospital emergency departments vary from 82 minutes at Hartford Hospital to 14 minutes at Windom Hospital, according to a new analysis by the CT Health I-Team. CT’s average wait time is 30 minutes; the national average is 28 minutes. While CT hospitals are implementing quality improvements, experts expect wait times to…

Health exchange enrollment still low and older

By Ellen Andrews | November 20, 2013 |

12,648 people have signed up for coverage through Access Health CT, our state health insurance exchange in the first month according to new enrollment numbers. About half (41%) have qualified for Medicaid. The other half (56%) enrolled in private insurance plans; more than half of those are choosing a silver plan. 62% have enrolled in…

9,000 CT policies canceled due to ACA standards

By Ellen Andrews | November 19, 2013 |

CT Insurance Commissioner Leonardi stated in an interview yesterday that 9,000 policies were cancelled recently because they were not grandfatheredunder the Affordable Care Act. Plans that were in place in March 23, 2010 (when the Act passed) and haven’t changed benefits or consumer costs in significant ways but don’t meet some new ACA standards for…

Advocates’ letter expands on SIM concerns about payment model risks

By Ellen Andrews | November 13, 2013 |

A new letter signed by 21 CT consumer advocates to the SIM committee provides more clarity on previous concerns and raises others that have surfaced in the SIM draft plan. SIM is the state’s newest plan to radically reform health care delivery and payment across the entire state. Previous concerns, raised in our August letter…

Medicaid Council update

By Ellen Andrews | November 13, 2013 |

Friday’s Medicaid Oversight Council meeting focused on the success of the Intensive Care Management Program. The program provides the most fragile Medicaid consumers with team-based, patient-centered care starting with a comprehensive assessment of what consumers need, both health and other supports, strengths and barriers. The team supports the consumer in setting their own goals and…

SIM slides outline project and consumer risks

By Ellen Andrews | November 8, 2013 |

Slidescreated for a presentation to consumer advocates provides background on the state SIM project, its goals, the administration’s proposal, and risksto consumers and taxpayers are online. SIM is the administration’s plan to radically transform health care – how it is delivered and how it is paid for – for at least 80% of state residents…

November CT Health Policy Webquiz: CT’s public health needs

By Ellen Andrews | November 5, 2013 |

Test your knowledge of CT’s public health needs. Take the November CT Health Policy Webquiz.

CT Health Reform Progress Meter moves up to 27.7%

By Ellen Andrews | November 4, 2013 |

CT policymakers have completed 27.7% of the tasks necessary for health reform, up 4% from last month. Most tasks on the Progress Meter list are due on Jan.1st of next year. Medicaid accounted for the forward progress in November’s Health Reform Dashboard. Once again, deep concerns about payment reform in the SIM process and the…