CT Health Reform
CTNJ highlights concerns with Cabinet reform proposal
“It’s not everyday that healthcare advocates and the Department of Social Services agree, but that’s what’s happening in a debate on how to save money and make sure residents, especially those on Medicaid, get the care they need”, according to today’s CT News Junkie. The article gives a very understandable description of the Health Care…
Read MoreComments and alternatives to the Health Care Cabinet’s draft proposal for reform
As directed in a law passed last year, the Health Care Cabinet is considering a draft Strawman proposal drafted by consultants for comprehensive, statewide health care reform in Connecticut. Many concerns have been raised about the very ambitious proposal which includes merging all state agencies that touch health care, ACOs with downside risk, an 1115…
Read MoreLetter urges public input into Cabinet reform plan
Serous concerns have been raised by diverse stakeholders about the Health Care Cabinet’s Strawman proposal for health reform. Among the proposal’s very ambitious plans are merging a dozen state agencies that touch on health under one person, close “alignment” of Medicaid and the state employee plan, creation of a new agency to oversee and regulate…
Read MoreGAO reports find individual insurance markets concentrated in most states in 2014, but largest in CT losing market share
Recent news about insurers leaving AccessHealthCT, CT’s health insurance exchange, have raised concerns about lowering competition and rising prices for health insurance. CT is not alone. Prior to 2014 health insurance markets in most states were highly concentrated, according to the US General Accounting Office. However, the largest individual coverage insurer in CT, Anthem/Wellpoint, has…
Read MoreCT Health Reform Dashboard – Cabinet reform proposal concerns, Medicaid evaluation affirmed
September’s CT Health Reform Dashboard update reflects the controversy surrounding the Health Care Cabinet’s ambitious and controversial proposal for state health reform. But in good news, DSS and the advocates’ call for a proper evaluation of Medicaid reform, and using it to improve and adjust the program, have been affirmed. Concerns about SIM ethics and…
Read MoreReform is hard and Econ 101 doesn’t work
An article published today in the New England Journal of Medicine highlights the challenges in health reform and why the usual, simple fixes aren’t working. The article by Richard Bohmer, The Hard Work of Health Care Transformation, explains why changing financial incentives or governance structures aren’t sufficient to effect change. The status quo is very…
Read MoreCT Health Reform Dashboard – SIM ethics problems growing, hospital mergers threaten
August’s CT Health Reform Dashboardupdate is again very active – and not in a good way. Thousands of working HUSKY parents lost coverage this week. SIM ethics problems continue to plague reform efforts. Efforts to bypass DSS’s prudent evaluation of the new, untested, very ambitious Medicaid reform plan are disturbing. Consultants for the Health Care…
Read MoreHealth Care Cabinet starts work on recommendations for reform
Yesterday the Health Care Cabinet gave consultants initial feedback on their “straw man” recommendations to improve health care and control costs in CT. The Cabinet has spent the last several months exploring leading state reforms preparing for our December report to the General Assembly. Members expressed concerns about the proposed consolidation of all state health…
Read MoreCT Health Reform Dashboard – SIM ethics problems grow, an insurer lost, HUSKY parents losing coverage
July’s CT Health Reform Dashboard update is very active. SIM ethics problems are back in the news, with the death of a bill that would have closed the legal loophole that exempts SIM appointees. The state insurance department has suspended HealthyCT, our state’s only non-profit, homegrown insurer. This is troubling on many levels including reducing…
Read MoreMedicaid reform application released – good interest at bidder’s conference
CT Medicaid’s plan for payment reform marked a milestone last week with release of the RFPfor provider networks and community health centers to participate. Most of the independent consumer advocates’ Medicaid Study Group recommendations are included, but not all. Pros include protective attribution, no downside risk, smart quality incentives to reward improvement, re-investing savings in…
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