Posts by Ellen Andrews
CTNJ: Advice to CT’s next Medicaid Director
Welcome. You’re taking on a big job at a difficult time. Your program covers healthcare for one in five state residents and is about a quarter of the state budget. But we’re in a very good place and you’ll have lots of help. The good news first. Read more
Read MoreReference pricing lowers healthcare prices, could save CT millions
Download the backgrounder Hospital prices are driving up healthcare costs making coverage unaffordable, in Connecticut and across the US. It’s hard to reduce hospital prices, especially in consolidated markets like Connecticut’s, where huge health systems have monopoly power to demand steep prices. But Oregon and Montana have been saving millions annually on just their state…
Read MoreGovernor proposes breaking up OHS
In his budget proposal today, Governor Lamont wisely proposed delegating the many functions under the Office of Health Strategy (OHS) to other state agencies. His goal is “to ensure a comprehensive and cohesive vision for healthcare.” Setting a statewide strategy to improve value in Connecticut’s complex and costly healthcare landscape takes focus and deep data…
Read MoreAdvocacy Toolbox resources for legislative session
Connecticut’s 2026 legislative session starts this Wednesday, February 4th and healthcare will be a hot topic this year. Just a few of the issues that will be debated include affordable private insurance, federal Medicaid cuts, private equity protections, and supporting public health through the federal cuts. For anyone advocating this session, we have tons of…
Read MoreCT first state to publicly report ED wait times
Like most states, Connecticut ‘s Emergency Departments (Eds) are overcrowded, causing staff burnout, crowding, and worse patient outcomes. To highlight the scope of the crisis, the CT College of Emergency Physicians has published a dashboard of ED boarding (waits in the ED for admission) and other performance measures. Connecticut is the first state to publicly…
Read MoreCTNJ: To make healthcare affordable, break up OHS
Candidates are hearing a lot about affordability, in Connecticut and across the country. Rising healthcare costs are a big part of the problem, erasing any wage increases. Connecticut is among the most expensive states for health insurance premiums, and they’re rising fast. Our state Office of Health Strategy is tasked with finding solutions that lower…
Read MoreACA chapter in CT Healthcare Explained updated
We’ve updated the Affordable Care Act chapter of CT Healthcare Explained. The update was prompted by new numbers and new topics, including what we know about COVID insurance subsidies lapsing. CT Healthcare Explained is our explainer website cutting through the complexities of our state’s healthcare system. Like the other 17 topic sections, the ACA chapter…
Read MoreNew resource on CT health equity
Making data actionable, the Connecticut Health Equity Dashboards offer a single source of detailed information on important health and social determinants at the town and neighborhood levels. Created by the state Office of Health Strategy, the site compares dozens of metrics across chronic care management, burden of disease, complications and poor outcomes, access to prevention,…
Read MoreAnalysis: Why is quality always TBD?
The quality of healthcare in Connecticut is average at best. Poor quality care compromises our health. But too often, improving quality is an afterthought. Paying less for poor quality is no bargain. We need both quality improvement and cost control. Thankfully, improving quality saves money. Read more
Read MoreReference pricing lowers healthcare prices, could save CT millions
Hospital prices are driving up healthcare costs making coverage unaffordable, in Connecticut and across the US. It’s hard to reduce hospital prices, especially in consolidated markets like Connecticut’s, where huge health systems have monopoly power to demand steep prices. But since 2019, Oregon has been saving $50 million annually on just their state employee plan,…
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