Posts by Ellen Andrews
SustiNet advisory committee and task force reports posted
The final reports of the five SustiNet advisory committees on patient-centered medical homes, health information technology, prevention, quality and providers, and disparities are posted. Also posted are the reports of the three SustiNet task forces on health care workforce, obesity and tobacco.
Read MoreJuly CT Health Policy Web Quiz – CT long term care costs
Test your knowledge of long term care costs in CT – hint: we are among the highest in the nation. Take the July CT Health Policy Web Quiz. This month’s quiz was written by Eric Knowles, CT Health Policy Project Summer Intern.
Read MoreCT second lowest state in obesity rates
In 2007 to 2009, CT ranked behind only Colorado in the lowest rate of obesity among adults according to a new report by the Trust for America’s Health. The bad news is that obesity affects one in five state adult residents (21.4%) and is up 9% from 2006-2008. And the news just gets worse —…
Read MoreWellPoint data breach put sensitive medical information on 5,600 CT residents at risk; Reinforces need for privacy protections
The Hartford Courant is reporting that between October and March, sensitive financial and health information about 470,000 Americans who applied to WellPoint for individual insurance was at risk of public disclosure, including 5,600 Connecticut residents. WellPoint is the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Connecticut. The breach only affected people who applied…
Read MoreState considering eHealth privacy policy that defaults everyone into the system
A DPH state planning committee announced that they are recommending a privacy policy for state health information exchange that would default consumers into the system unless they affirmatively opt-out. The process to opt-out, or even how consumers would be informed of their rights, is unclear. The recommendation also requires providers – hospitals and doctor’s offices…
Read MoreCheap solutions to big problems work better; small is the new big
In a hilarious TED talk, marketing expert Rory Sutherland points out the counter productive trend to throw big money at problems when, in fact, small changes are often more effective. The talk does touch on health care – at about four and half minutes into the video he describes a link between childhood immunizations and…
Read MoreHealth IT strategic plan public hearing tomorrow; opt-out policy being considered
DPH’s health IT planning group will have a public review of their strategic plan tomorrow evening, June 23rd from 5 to 7pm at the Legislative Office Building. DPH is heading the state’s HIT planning in response to CT winning federal funding to build a health information exchange. The group is accepting input online until June…
Read MoreHealth benefits consuming more of total employee compensation, Northeast most expensive
Between March 2000 and 2010, health care benefits grew from 5.5% to 7.5% of total compensation costs nationally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In March 2010, health insurance averaged $2.08/hour worked in private industry — more than disability, retirement, Medicare, Social Security, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, life insurance or paid leave. Not surprisingly,…
Read MoreUtah program reduces non-urgent Medicaid ER visits by 55%
Safe To Wait, a Utah Medicaid educational program, reduced non-urgent visits to emergency room visits by 55%. Medicaid savings for some patients were as high as $156/month. In the Safe to Wait program, members were provided with information on which conditions were true emergencies and which could wait. After the first non-urgent ER visit, members…
Read MoreHispanic Health Council unveils new website
Visit the Hispanic Health Council’s re-designed website. The Hispanic Health Council’s mission is to improve the health and social wellbeing of Latinos and other diverse communities. Programs include substance abuse and recovery, nutrition assistance, farm workers health, HIV/AIDS, breastfeeding, diabetes, cancer and parenting support. Join the Hispanic Health Council for their 30th Anniversary on October…
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