Posts by Ellen Andrews
I found my blog – finally
Most days I have no trouble figuring out what to write about here, but today I searched and searched. Believe it or not I considered Martha Stewart’s blog on family caregivers (did you know that America has three times as many plastic surgeons as geriatricians). The blogosphere is full of obituaries for national health care…
Read MoreObesity and Tobacco Forum
The CT Public Policy Institute held a forum at the Capitol yesterday on the scope of obesity and tobacco issues in our state and what policymakers can do to improve health and lower costs. 16% of CT adults currently smoke, below the US average of 21%. Smoking kills more people than AIDS plus alcohol plus…
Read MoreIf national health reform happens, how will it affect CT?
Passage of a national health reform bill appears uncertain. However under any scenario, if it happens, Medicaid will expand significantly. At least 100,000 more CT residents could become eligible for the program that has struggled in our state. The CT Health Policy Project has drafted a list of policy and design questions that need to…
Read MorePatient registration open now for Feb. 3rd Hartford Free Clinic; Doctors, nurses and other volunteers needed
Come out Wednesday, February 3, 2010 to the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford for the NAFC’s (National Association of Free Clinics) C.A.R.E Clinic, which will be providing free medical services to uninsured patients from noon- 7 p.m. Doctors from many specialties will be present, and patients are recommended to call 877-233-5159 to make an appointment.…
Read MoreSustiNet Board meeting
Yesterday’s SustiNet Board meeting focused on federal health reforms and how SustiNet fits in. The Board heard from Stan Dorn at the Urban Institute and Sarah Dash from Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro’s office. Both gave excellent descriptions of the House and Senate bills, where CT stands in both scenarios, and the major items still being negotiated.…
Read MoreFree Clinics coming to Hartford, sign up to volunteer
The National Free Clinic Association is coming to Hartford February 3rd. Care will be provided to anyone who needs it, without payment, from noon to 7pm at the CT Convention Center. The Association has held massive one-day free clinics around the country, bringing desperately needed medical services to the uninsured and great publicity to the…
Read MoreDSS complies with court decision; legal immigrants can access HUSKY again
Last month, a Hartford Superior Court judge ruled that the state’s action to cut health coverage for adult legal immigrants was unconstitutional. But it took another ruling last Friday for DSS to comply with that ruling, according to Greater Hartford Legal Assistance attorneys who brought the suit. The court found that the denial of health…
Read MoreObesity and Tobacco in Connecticut Forum
The CT Public Health Policy Institute will host a forum January 19th on Overweight and Obesity in CT: Precursors, Policies and Possibilities and Smoke and Mirrors: Examining Tobacco Use, Consequences, and Policies in CT. The forum will be from 8 to 11:30am at the Legislative Office Building, Room 2A. Expert speakers will discuss the issues…
Read MoreMedicaid Managed Care/PCCM update
Today’s Medicaid Managed Care Council included an update on PCCM given the expansion to New Haven and Hartford January 1st. It was noted that there has been great interest among providers with 122 signed up in New Haven and 47 in Hartford so far and more applications expected. Unfortunately, DSS has refused to remove the…
Read MoreNew in the Book Club: The Healing of America
I usually avoid reading about other countries’ health systems; it’s depressing how backward America is about health care. It is odd that the best way to motivate policymakers to do something is to suggest that other states have done the thing and that we are behind, but the worst way to move them is to…
Read More