health disparities
Coincidence? CT spends little on primary care, and we have high ED, preventable hospitalization rates
A new analysis finds that Connecticut, at only 3.5% of our health care dollars spent on primary care, is last among 29 states studied. Not surprisingly, we also rank among the highest in ED visits, all hospitalizations, and in avoidable hospitalizations. The US average is 5.6% of health care spending devoted to primary care, well…
Read MoreComments needed on federal proposal to erode medical debtors’ rights
The National Consumer Law Center is asking people who care to submit public comments on the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposed debt collection rule. Medical bills are the biggest cause of bankruptcy and the top reason for contact by collections. Unfortunately, that burden falls very heavily on Connecticut residents. Health insurance premiums for both…
Read MoreCT homelessness continues to drop but health challenges are serious
This year’s point-in-time count of homelessness in Connecticut finds the numbers are going down – that’s the very good news. This year the CT Coalition to End Homelessness found that on January 22nd, when volunteers fanned out across the state to count the homeless, the number was 3,033. That’s the lowest number since the survey…
Read MoreNew tool makes Medicaid business case for CT to address obesity
Twenty nine percent of Connecticut children ages 5 to 17 are overweight or obese, according to the Department of Public Health. That number jumps to 47.8% for children living in households with annual incomes between $25,000 to 50,000. Many, maybe most, of these children qualify for Medicaid. Only 13.1% of Connecticut high school students eat…
Read MoreMedicaid will apply to cover supportive housing services
DSS announced at today’s Medicaid Council meeting that they will be expanding their collaboration with state housing resources. Medicaid’s supportive housing option opportunity lets states bridge the firewall between healthcare and social service spending. CT Medicaid intends to cover transition and tenancy-sustaining services through a 1915(i) state plan amendment. Initially the program will cover up…
Read MoreCT ranks 5th among states in health system performance this year, up from 9th last year
Connecticut’s health system performs better than all but four other states, according to the latest Commonwealth Fund State Scorecard. We are first in Healthy lives, up from sixth last year. Surprisingly, we also do very well on Access & Affordability (sixth) – it must be the access part. But we have a lot of work…
Read MoreMore concerns about YNHH, community health center plans for New Haven primary care
Updated 11:30 am A letter from the City of New Haven’s Department of Services for Persons with Disabilities to the state and new Yale Daily News article and one from the New Haven Register highlight transportation issues with YNHH and the two city community health centers’ plans for primary care. Plans to use Uber to…
Read MoreCT up to third healthiest state this year
According to America’s Health Ranking, Connecticut is the third healthiest state in the union this year, up from fifth last year. We are doing far better than our 13th ranking in 1992 but down from 2nd in 2008 and 2006. The ranking by the United Health Foundation has compared states on 34 health indicators since…
Read MoreEmployer health benefit costs hit lowest wage workers hardest
The latest Kaiser Employer Health Benefits Survey found that nationally last year premiums for employer-sponsored health benefits rose by 3% for single coverage and 5% for family coverage. In comparison, wages rose 2.6% and inflation was 2.5%. As in previous surveys, premiums were highest in the Northeast. But in a really unfair twist (which also…
Read MoreCTNJ op-ed: Health disparities are real and new payment schemes are probably making them worse
Connecticut is a very healthy place; we rank fifth healthiest among states. But not all state residents share in that good fortune; too many suffer from health inequities. Very good people across the state are doing important work promoting better health for everyone. However some emerging policies, both government and private sector, are working at…
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