Posts by Ellen Andrews
HUSKY transition update
Also at yesterday’s Appropriations’ Human Services Subcommittee meeting, DSS reported on the HUSKY transition from four fully-capitated managed care organizations to two non-risk bearing companies and fee-for-service. The transition began Jan. 1st. Currently DSS is responsible for all decisions about medical services and MCOs are being paid only to administer the program. The transition was…
Read MoreBills we are following
HB-5617, AA Delaying Implementation of and Making Revisions to the Charter Oak Plan and HB-5618, AAC Revisions to the HUSKY Plan, have been raised by the Human Services Committee. The public hearing for both is next Tuesday, February 26th at 10am in Room 2A of the LOB. Ellen Andrews
Read MoreCMS wants to give states more Medicaid flexibility
Yesterday, CMS published proposed rules allowing state Medicaid programs more flexibility in program design, similar to SCHIP programs. The change is meant to “implement the Administration’s goals of aligning Medicaid more closely with private market insurance and giving states more control over their Medicaid benefit packages.” If approved the rules would allow states to reduce…
Read MoreNew Health Wonk Review
If you don’t have time to visit all the health care blogs every day, check out the Health Wonk Review. Every two weeks, health care bloggers take turns collecting the best of the blogs. Not only is it a time saver, but the different perspectives are fascinating. The latest issue is from GoozNews.com. Posted by…
Read MoreHealth First Authority meeting update
At today’s meeting of the Health First Authority, their fifth, members expressed frustration with the group’s slow progress. The group was to hear presentations by representatives from other states working on health care reform, but that was postponed. The proposed facilitator, whose services are being donated by Academy Health, has changed. They are now considering…
Read MoreAG refuses DSS lawsuit against advocates, supports free speech rights
In a very strongly worded letter, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal rejected DSS Commissioner Mike Starkowski’s request to hire outside attorneys to sue three legal aid lawyers, Sheldon Toubman of New Haven Legal Assistance, Jamey Bell of Greater Hartford Legal Aid, and Randi Mezzy of CT Legal Services. The lawyers sent a letter to each of…
Read MoreDSS comes to Appropriations
Last week the Appropriations Committee met with state agencies on the Governor’s budget adjustments. Friday was DSS Commissioner Mike Starkowski’s turn. Beyond the “lovefest” over the agency’s performance in meeting pre-set goals, there were several tense exchanges. Legislators expressed concern that the dept. has chosen not to implement several programs the legislature negotiated into last…
Read MoreGeographic Variation in Health Care Spending
In a recent report, the Congressional Budget Office found that Medicare spending varies significantly by geographic region, even after controlling for differences in demographics, treatment preferences, and regional prices of medical services. The authors cite three possible reasons for the residual geographic variation in Medicare spending: (1) disagreement among medical professionals regarding the appropriateness of…
Read MoreGovernor’s proposal to cut interpreters faces opposition
An article on ctnewsjunkie.com reports on Friday’s press conference by legislators opposing Governor Rell’s proposal to cut $4.7 million for medical interpreters in Medicaid. At last week’s Medicaid Managed Care Council, CT Voices for Children presented on the very high and growing rate of costly emergency room visits by Medicaid Managed Care/HUSKY patients. 38% of…
Read MoreTwo studies question cost effectiveness of prevention and treatment
A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine challenges the dogma that prevention always pays. This is especially important within the current presidential political environment with candidates promoting prevention as a way to stop skyrocketing health care costs. The authors note that many preventive measures do save money such as flu vaccines for…
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