CT Health Reform
Connecticut back to a C on health reform
Connecticut health care thought leaders give our state a C on health reform again this winter; down from a C+ earlier this year. Connecticut maintained our C+ for effort in this survey. Among issue areas only Medicaid improved again. Connecticut lost ground on the health insurance exchange, health insurance market reform, and public education. The overwhelming…
Read MoreInsurance exchange rate proposals in for HealthyCT
Insurance premiums for HealthyCT, the new nonprofit health insurer co-op, have been posted on the insurance dept.’s website. HealthyCT is the only insurer that has submitted rate proposals for 2014 so far, despite an April 30th due date. Average monthly premiums for individuals will be $427/month and for small groups $445/month. While the benefit plans…
Read MoreCabinet meeting update: SIM project described, exchange plans offering low rates to doctors, Charter Oak redux?
Yesterday’s Cabinet meeting focused on the state’s $2.8 million State Innovation Model (SIM) grant. The plan is to develop a grant proposal by the fall to create a multi-payer approach to design care delivery and payment reforms that touch 80% of CT residents. The project will test innovative models to lower costs and maintain or…
Read MoreStill waiting for insurance exchange rates, UnitedHealthcare is out
Rate proposals by insurers planning to participate in CT’s health insurance exchange were due to the Insurance Dept. last Tuesday, but none have been filed according to the Hartford Courant. However HealthyCT says they filed with the department on Friday. The exchange is blaming federal regulations and delays. UnitedHealthcare notified the exchange last week that…
Read MoreHealth Insurance Rate Shock: What Connecticut Can Do
All indications are that Connecticut health insurance costs will rise significantly next year. Fortunately there are several tools available to policymakers to mitigate that trend for Connecticut consumers and small businesses who will be mandated to secure coverage as of January 1st. A new brief outlines state affordability options including a stronger state MLR limit, active…
Read MoreWe are up to 21.5% of the way to health reform in CT
CT policymakers have completed 21.5% of the tasks necessary for health reform; most are due on Jan.1st of next year. Medicaid and some evidence of movement toward affordability on the insurance exchange accounted for the progress in May’s Health Reform Dashboard. CT biggest problem is ensuring new hopeful signs from the insurance exchange are realized.
Read MoreCT Insurance Exchange update
Friday Trinity College sponsored “The Affordable Care Act: Implications for CT”, a conference on how CT is implementing health care reform and how our state’s system will be different. The conference highlighted Trinity’s new Masters Degree track in Health Policy. The insurance exchange was the subject of great interest, especially specific examples of household options…
Read MoreCT’s All Payer Claims Database – an important opportunity, if we do it right
A new report for the CT Health Foundation outlines CT’s progress and future options toward developing an All-Payer Claims Database (APCD). Putting all health care claims in the state across providers, payers and regions in one place would allow better health resource planning, identification of hotspots of high utilization, develop targeted solutions, improve patient safety…
Read MoreExchange Board approves recommendation to limit insurer administration and profits
At yesterday’s meeting the CT Health Insurance Exchange Board unanimously approved a motion recommending that the state pass legislation limiting the amount of premiums insurers can spend on administration and profits, the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR), beyond the limits included in the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). OPM Secretary Barnes made the recommendation in response…
Read MoreCT up to 18.5% on health reform progress meter
CT policymakers have completed 18.5% of the tasks necessary for health reform; up from 17.7% from last month. Most tasks must be completed by Jan.1st of next year. Medicaid, patient-centered medical homes and payment reform/quality improvement are leading health reform according to April’s CT Health Reform Dashboard. The health insurance exchange, health information technology, and…
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