Health Reform
Single payer reform moves forward in VT
This week I was in Montpelier for a CSG/Eastern Region state capitol visit. House committees were debating their single payer reform bill, H202. Virtually all the discussion revolves around how to do it, not whether to do it. More than once I heard policymakers remark that this is a huge undertaking, but “we have to…
Read MoreMA health reforms did not reduce medical bankruptcies
A new study finds that health reform in MA, including the individual mandate, did little to reduce bankruptcies due to medical bills. The number of medical bankruptcies grew from 7,504 in 2007 to 10,093 in 2009; the proportion of bankruptcies due to medical bills dipped insignificantly from 59.3% to 52.9%. Insurance is not enough —…
Read MoreACA caps on consumer spending would have helped 139,100 CT consumers this year
A report released today by Families USA finds that caps on what consumers have to pay for health care in the Affordable Care Act, if they were in effect this year, would have helped 139,100 Connecticut residents and saved families almost $250 million. Adjusted to today’s dollars, the caps limit consumers’ health costs over $5,950…
Read MoreFamilies USA conference
Nancy Pelosi, President Obama, dear friends and lots of great information on ACA implementation – and what CT needs to do. Last week’s Families USA conference was inspiring and exhausting. Now back to work. Ellen Andrews
Read MoreCongressional staff not worried about defunding health reform
Health staff for CT’s delegation are not concerned about prospects of defunding national health reform – a great relief for policymakers across the states worrying about their responsibilities under the law. A lot of the funding is mandatory. In general, everyone has a great attitude about the constant stream of votes by the new majority…
Read MoreVermont pursuing single payer reform
Under Act 128 passed last year, Vermont is considering implementing a single-payer health care system for their state. The much-awaited consultants’ report outlining options was released Wednesday. One option is very similar to CT’s SustiNet plan. The report outlines the cost and quality pressures that led Vermont to consider a single-payer plan including fragmentation of…
Read MoreRep. Courtney on health reform repeal debate
Our CT Health Policy Project Board member and longtime advocate for CT’s health care consumers, Rep. Joe Courtney argued persuasively on the floor of the House against the recent bill to repeal national health care reform. Unfortunately, he was not able to persuade enough of his colleagues to join him in voting no. To watch…
Read MoreState Strategies for Health Reform Implementation conference
I’ve been in DC for a fascinating conference for state-based advocates on how we can influence and support health reform at home. First, it is an incredible opportunity to connect (and reconnect) with advocates from across the states, get ideas, share stories and learn what is really happening. For example, Utah’s much publicized insurance exchange…
Read MoreCountering campaign spin and negative ads
Yesterday’s NY Times top editorial is a list of fact checks on campaign distortions about national health reform, the Accountable Care Act. For the record, the law does not require patients to go through a bureaucrat to reach a doctor, reform is not a “government takeover” of health care – the law relies heavily on…
Read MoreMore health policy from New Orleans
A long day at the NASHP conference today. We heard about challenges facing states; the common theme was planning deep reforms on very short timelines with limited staff capacity and growing budget deficits. William Hazel, recently hired Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Services, pulled together the heads of departments to look for savings. When…
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