Posts by Ellen Andrews
SIM slides outline project and consumer risks
Slidescreated for a presentation to consumer advocates provides background on the state SIM project, its goals, the administration’s proposal, and risksto consumers and taxpayers are online. SIM is the administration’s plan to radically transform health care – how it is delivered and how it is paid for – for at least 80% of state residents…
Read MoreNovember CT Health Policy Webquiz: CT’s public health needs
Test your knowledge of CT’s public health needs. Take the November CT Health Policy Webquiz.
Read MoreCT Health Reform Progress Meter moves up to 27.7%
CT policymakers have completed 27.7% of the tasks necessary for health reform, up 4% from last month. Most tasks on the Progress Meter list are due on Jan.1st of next year. Medicaid accounted for the forward progress in November’s Health Reform Dashboard. Once again, deep concerns about payment reform in the SIM process and the…
Read MoreMaryland’s SIM proposal emphasizes quality improvement, community resources and engagement
Maryland’s newly released SIM proposal includes many attractive features CT advocates have been championing for our state. Quality improvement and sophisticated analytical tools to support quality are MD’s priority and constitute most of their proposal’s content. The foundation of their plan is to “integrate patient-centered care with community-based resources while enhancing the capacity of local…
Read MoreSIM proposal draft – no commitment to deny payment to providers who deny care
During yesterday’s meeting, SIM leaders posted their first draft online of the administration’s plan to reform health care in CT. SIM is designed to radically transform how health care is delivered and paid for in our state across all payers – Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, self-insured employers, individuals and small businesses. Despite earlier encouraging conversations,…
Read MoreAPCD Roundtable – lessons for CT
Yesterday’s CT Health Policy Roundtable on All-Payer Claims Databases yielded many lessons for CT from other states and organizations. Lessons included the need for strong privacy and security protections, avoiding commercial uses, licensing to universities and organizations rather than individuals, and developing a transparent, fair process for access to the data based on the…
Read MoreCT Health Policy Roundtable: CT’s APCD tomorrow
Join national and state experts tomorrow for a Roundtable to learn more about the potential for Connecticut’s new All-Payer Claims Database in health care planning, improving health care quality, capacity and promoting health equity. The Roundtable is sponsored by the CT Health Policy Project, the CT Center for Patient Safety and Access Health Analyticsand made…
Read MoreSIM update – moving in a better direction
Yesterday’s SIM meeting showed some positive movement toward a system that respects and protects consumers. Recognizing the potential harm to consumers, SIM leaders now intend to monitor for under-treatment and inappropriate treatment, and the payment model no longer includes capitation, both serious concerns raised by advocates. However advocates remain troubled that there is no…
Read MoreCT among ten highest states in Medicare drug spending
A new analysis by C-HIT finds that CT seniors on Medicare are spending more than consumers in most other states on prescriptions. CT elderly Medicare beneficiaries are more likely to use brand name drugs than generics, especially in high income towns in Fairfield county. Within the state, Meriden has the highest per beneficiary prescription…
Read MoreEarly insurance exchange enrollment older and half to Medicaid
Between the beginning of the month and Tuesday 3,847 people had enrolled in coverage through Access Health CT, our state’s health insurance exchange, according to a presentation to the exchange Board this morning. 1,857 (48%) are eligible for Medicaid, 1,125 (29%) for subsidized insurance, 772 (20%) for insurance without a subsidy, and 93 (2%)…
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