Posts by Ellen Andrews
CT uninsured rate up to 12%
The Census is reporting that CT’s uninsured rate rose from 10% in 2008 to 12% in 2009, an increase of 43,000 residents without coverage. Employer sponsored coverage levels held steady despite rising unemployment, possibly because of generous federal COBRA subsidies. While Medicaid numbers dropped during the study period, HUSKY enrollment grew and has grown faster…
Read MoreCT insurers propose double digit rate hikes
Once again CT health insurance companies are asking the CT Insurance Department for permission to charge very large premium increases, more than 20% in many cases, according to the Hartford Courant. Predictably, insurers are blaming rising medical costs and national health reform. Members of CT’s Congressional delegation and the Attorney General are objecting. The largest…
Read MoreCT lags in health IT adoption
If you’ve been avoiding the health information technology debate (it can get a bit technical), yesterday’s CT Mirror has a great analysis. While electronic medical record adoption is slow across the US, it is glacial here in CT. There are several reasons nicely outlined in the story; we need to address them all. Health IT…
Read MoreHealthJusticeCT launches website
Health Justice CT, a new social networking project to address racial and ethnic health disparities in CT, has launched a website, www.healthjusticect.org. It is interactive, gathering news, research, events, and online conversations. The resources section is particularly helpful. Health Justice CT is funded by the CT Health Foundation. Check back often to learn more.
Read MoreCT residents need to eat more fruits and veggies, but we are doing better than most states
The good news is that CT residents eat more fruits and vegetables than most Americans, according to today’s MMWR. The bad news is that our consumption of fruits dropped each year from 2000 to 2009; vegetable consumption was somewhat steady. Last year, 37.6% of us ate fruit two or more times a day and 28.5%…
Read MoreTwo job openings
The health policy sector of the economy is doing its part to reduce unemployment. The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition is seeking a Director of Public Policy and eHealthConnecticut is seeking a CEO. The new CEO of eHealthCT will lead the nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a sustainable, secure, private health information exchange in our state.…
Read MoreConversion to risk corridors in HUSKY seems less likely
As reported by Christine Stuart at CT News Junkie, in a meeting yesterday the Executive Committee of the Medicaid Managed Care Council considered HUSKY financing options outlined by DSS at the last Council meeting. The budget passed earlier this year includes $76 million in savings to move HUSKY from the current capitated system to a…
Read MoreWill Charter Oak survive?
An interesting story by Arielle Levin Becker at the CT Mirror asks whether Charter Oak will survive after Governor Rell leaves office. The best thing about Charter Oak is that people with pre-existing conditions are not excluded from coverage; under national health reform, that exclusion will be prohibited in all health insurance in 2014. It…
Read MoreWin Win — state cigarette tax increased revenue and reduced smoking
The $1/pack tax increase in cigarette taxes implemented last October brought in over $100 million while seven million fewer packs of cigarettes were sold, according to the Hartford Courant. It was expected that increasing taxes would both increase revenue and reduce cigarettes sold, but this increase brought in $5 million more than projected. The increase…
Read MoreAlmost half of Americans use a prescription medication each month
Forty eight percent of Americans reported that they had taken a prescription medication in the last month, according to new numbers from the CDC for 2007-2008. That number is up from 44% in the last ten years. Not only are more of us taking medications, but we are taking more drugs. The percentage of Americans…
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