Posts by Ellen Andrews
February webquiz – PCCM/HUSKY Primary Care
Test your knowledge about CT’s PCCM program — HUSKY Primary Care. Take the February CT Health Policy Webquiz. This month’s quiz was developed by Sabina Klein, CTHPP Student Fellow and soon-to-graduate Yale senior. Sabina is one of the “army” of students/volunteers working to get out the word about this exciting new option for HUSKY families.…
Read MorePCCM update for Appropriations Committee
Friday from 10am to 1pm at the Legislative Office Building the Appropriations Committee will receive a report from DSS about their progress in implementing PCCM/HUSKY Primary Care. Following the department’s report will be a panel including physicians, a consumer, and this advocate about the program.Ellen Andrews
Read MoreQuality and Valerie Jarrett at Families
Regions of the US with higher health care spending actually have worse health outcomes, according to Elliott Fisher from Dartmouth. Friday’s Families conference started with a fascinating plenary about the disconnect between what we spend on health care and what we get, followed by concrete guidance for providers who want to improve the quality of…
Read MoreNursing homes file suit against state over rates
The CT Association of Health Care Facilities yesterday filed suit in federal court arguing that the rates paid by the state to nursing homes violate federal laws that require consistence with efficiency, economy, quality and equality of access to care and that there is no evidence that rates are set on an objective, reasonable and…
Read MoreSen. Frankin stars at Families conference
In describing opponents of health care reform, Minnesota Senator Al Frankin reminded advocates at yesterday’s Families USA conference of a quote by former Speaker Sam Rayburn, “Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.” He characterized the opponents as having bumper stickers with only one word – No.…
Read MoreSecond wind for health care reform
My second day of visiting Capitol offices found mainly optimism and people really taking a breather. The President’s State of the Union speech last night helped. The Houses and the White House are talking although no one expects this to happen anytime soon. I heard about the seven stages of grieving from more than one…
Read MoreCapitol Hill visit – What about reform?
I’m spending this week at the Families USA pre-conference meeting of advocates from across the states. We thought we’d be talking about how to implement health care reforms (and we still are talking about that), but politics got in the way. We have also been fanning out across Capitol Hill, reminding our legislators that the…
Read MoreSustiNet workforce and medical home webinars scheduled
Three SustiNet webinars have been scheduled to date; all are available to the public to participate.The first is February 2nd at 11am. We will be hearing from Mina Harkins, Assistant Vice President at NCQA about their patient centered medical home certification program. To register for that webinar, go to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/618793754 The second will be February…
Read MoreCheshire/ Wallingford LWV health care forum features Congressman Murphy
There were concerns that Saturday’s forum on health care might get ugly, but thankfully everyone stuck to the issues – what should Congress do now about health care reform. Congressman Murphy said that health care is a very personal, hot button issue and it should be. We have to look very hard at what we…
Read MoreUnited Health Group profits up 30%
Rising unemployment, and consequent rising uninsurance, reduced United Health Group’s lucrative commercial enrollment by almost a million people compared to last year. Despite that, United posted rising profits for the third straight quarter. Raising premiums and a 12.5% increase in taxpayer-funded Medicare and Medicaid enrollment contributed to the profits. United Health Care (Americhoice) is one…
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