CT Health Reform
Medicaid outreach recommendations
Small grants, engaging an army of trusted community messengers, ubiquitous marketing, and robust monitoring will be critical to enrolling the estimated 130,000 newly eligible CT Medicaid members in January 2014, according to a report by the CT Health Policy Project. Best opportunities for outreach include providers, current HUSKY members, faith-based communities, connecting with employers and…
Read MoreExchange Board and staff water down already watered-down affordability and access provisions
In a surprise to advisory committee co-chairs, CT Health Insurance Exchange staff submitted four alternative policy proposals at today’s Board meeting – they were adopted virtually intact by the Board. The staff alternatives were contrary to the recommendations adopted Tuesday by the Consumer and Qualified Health Plan Advisory Committees, with Exchange staff at every meeting.…
Read MoreJoint exchange committees voting down active purchasing, cost control
While the votes are reportedly still coming in, it appears that the Consumer and QHP Insurance Exchange committees have voted against active purchasing. With active purchasing, other state exchanges are using the power of numbers, as large employers do, to negotiate better premiums, lower costs and better coverage for their members. MA has saved millions…
Read MoreExchange advisory committees reject “any-willing insurer”
Today in a joint meeting of the Health Plan Benefits/Qualifications and Consumer Experience/Outreach committees of the CT Health Insurance Exchange voted against the staff recommendation “that the Exchange not deny any carrier QHP certification on the basis of its approved rates”. The only votes for the staff’s any willing insurer proposal were from Aetna and…
Read MoreCT Insurance Exchange holding public events
In response to concerns about the lack of public input, CT’s Health Insurance Exchange will be holding seven “Healthy Chat” events in the next month. Similar to Consumer Conversations last month but sponsored by the exchange this time, they will be reporting on their activities but will also be taking questions. We will be asking…
Read MoreWhy CT’s health insurance exchange needs to negotiate
CT’s health insurance exchange is not planning to negotiate with insurers to improve value and control costs for consumers. As of January 2014, consumers will be mandated to secure coverage. Consumers eligible for affordability assistance must purchase in the still developing exchange to get the subsidies. Massachusetts’s exchange (the Connector) negotiates, termed active purchasing, with…
Read MoreConsumer questions to CT insurance exchange
Some initial questions from consumers for the exchange were collected for last Friday’s Consumer Conversations. Among the 43 early questions — Will you standardize benefit limits, exclusions, and substitutions to the Essential Health Benefit package? and How will you monitor that there are enough of the right kinds of doctors, and other providers taking new…
Read MoreCT health reform progress up to 16.7%
CT inched up only 0.3% in progress toward health reform last month. We have completed 16.7% of the tasks needed to be ready for January 1, 2014 when individuals will be legally required to secure health coverage. Highlights remain Medicaid and patient-centered medical homes. Unfortunately, problem areas continue to be the insurance exchange and insurance…
Read MoreConsumers raise concerns with CT insurance exchange
Consumers and small businesses had a rare opportunity to share their concerns with CT’s health insurance exchange Friday. A standing room only crowd met with the exchange’s CEO, Kevin Counihan at a restaurant in Glastonbury. Christie Hager, HHS Regional Director, also attended. Comments focused on the lack of consumer and small business input to the…
Read MoreCT health reform update
The CT Health Policy Project has posted a summary of updates and context on CT’s progress toward health reform.
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