CT Health Reform Dashboard responds to efforts to undermine constructive policies

  This month’s Health Reform Dashboardupdate reflects more attempts to unravel progress in CT.  Medicaid leads the concerns with broken promises on downside risk and attempts to weaken critical consumer notices about shifting provider incentives, potential underservice, and how to protect yourself. OHCA’s approval of YNHH’s acquisition of L&M health system will require a lot…

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CT Health Reform Dashboard – Troubling Cabinet reform proposal would move CT backward

October’s CT Health Reform Dashboardupdate reflects the controversy surrounding the Health Care Cabinet’s controversial proposal for state health reform. The current proposal would move CT back into failed payment models and would break the administration’s promise to Medicaid members. Other concerns include a vague hospital consolidation deal that leaves a lot of accountability to administrative…

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CT 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…

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CT 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…

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CT 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…

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CT Health Reform Dashboard – lots of uncertainty, hard work ahead

Summer used to come with down time, but June’s CT Health Reform Dashboard update is anything but quiet. 17,688 HUSKY parents are scheduled to lose coverage at the end of next month. Serious concerns have been raised about the notices to members that miss critical information to help them plan for their health. Based on…

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CT Reform Dashboard update – opportunities for progress, but some concerns linger

Lots of changes this month in CT’s Health Reform Dashboard. The inability to finalize the state budget leaves coverage for 8,700 HUSKY parents in limbo. This is in addition to the 17,688 working parents who are already scheduled to lose HUSKY this summer. Despite this, the Health Care Cabinet continues its collaborative work to study best…

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CT Health Reform Dashboard update: mixed Medicaid progress, a few good signs elsewhere

Both good and bad news for consumers in planned Medicaid reforms influenced CT Health Reform Dashboard this month. In good news, DSS and SIM agreed to make the well-intentioned but poorly-designed CCIP program optional for Medicaid networks applying to participate in shared savings. A Wall Street Journal article reported on the success of CT’s Medicaid…

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Thoughtleaders give CT a C+ on health reform this year

In the latest survey, CT health care thought leaders give our state a C+ grade on health reform, down from last year’s survey. CT’s grade for effort also dropped to a B-/C+ in this survey. Higher marks go to the health insurance exchange, Medicaid, and patient-centered medical homes, as for last year. Payment reform/quality improvement…

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CT health reform progress meter not changed much

This month’s CT health reform progress meter ticked down very slightly this month, continuing its hover around the same 25% mark. Medicaid redesign planning is still on track, working collaboratively with all voices at the table. More Medicaid quality data confirms the program’s improvements including exciting news on health equity for high-cost, high-need members. However…

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