healthcare costs
DSS’s comprehensive HUSKY report finds a very strong program, with plans to improve
In response to 2023 legislation, on Tuesday DSS provided a 72-page comprehensive description and analysis of Connecticut’s Medicaid program to MAPOC, the program’s oversight council. The report also includes DSS’s strategy to improve the program and members’ health. The report finds that the program’s performance is very strong. “Overall, the Medicaid program achieves good quality…
Read MoreAnalysis: Trump order jeopardizes cost effective, life-changing cure for sickle cell
We are lucky to live in a time when creative scientists are developing life-changing new cures for debilitating genetic diseases. These breakthrough treatments are as important as penicillin or insulin were in their time. Unfortunately, they are also very expensive. To help pay for them, federal Medicaid officials created an opportunity to help states afford…
Read MoreCT is the 6th most expensive state for smokers costing more than $5 million over a lifetime
Smoking is terrible for your health — tobacco kills 4,900 Connecticut residents each year. However, it’s also a very expensive bad habit. A new analysis by WalletHub estimates lifetime costs for Connecticut smokers at $5,035,722 or $104,911 annually. This is the sixth highest smoking burden among states. The researchers modeled the costs for a pack-a-day…
Read MoreAnalysis: Hartford HealthCare Settlement with St. Francis Still Leaves Two Important Class Action Suits Active
CT News Junkie reports that St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center has reached a settlement with Hartford HealthCare in their lawsuit alleging unfair business practices. It’s good that St. Francis’s complaints as a competitor have been addressed, but the concerns of consumers and payers are still outstanding in two class action lawsuits against Hartford HealthCare.…
Read MoreAnalysis: Despite the name, value is not the solution for raging healthcare costs
The murder of a United health executive has intensified very strong reactions to America’s broken healthcare system. Unfortunately, too many opportunists are using this tragedy to push a tired, failed agenda – value-based care and its corollary, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Read more
Read MoreWandering around in OHS’s databases – lots to learn and a surprise
Our state Office of Health Strategy has several impressive portals and dashboards to explore their trove of data and other information. They include healthcare affordability, ED visits, quality ratings, facility plans, self-sufficiency tools, hospital finances, prescription drug costs, and Race, ethnicity and language data. Visitors can sort the data by service, payer, age, gender, and…
Read MoreICER’s 4th annual report finds progress in fair access to prescription drugs
Over the last four years, barriers facing patients getting access to cost effective drugs in commercial plans and the Veteran’s Administration have gotten better, according to ICER’s fourth annual Barriers to Fair Access report. The authors compare plan policies, including cost sharing, clinical eligibility, step therapy and provider restrictions, to independent standards for fair access…
Read MoreReport finds growing number of drug prices rising without merit
Half of the ten fastest-rising drug prices without any evidence of improved value last year, according to the latest report from ICER. This is the highest percentage of unsupported prescription drug prices since ICER began this report in 2019. The increased prices rose far faster than inflation for the rest of the economy. Just the…
Read MoreMore questions and answers on DSS’s plan for HUSKY maternity bundles
Read the new questions and answers DSS is planning to move Medicaid payments for maternity services from the current fee-for-service arrangement to a per-person bundled payment. They will also expand services to include doula and lactation supports. However, advocates have asked questions and raised concerns about unintended consequences when providers make more money by reducing…
Read MoreAnalysis: DSS Study Suggests MCOs don’t Make Sense for HUSKY
Last Friday, the state released a consultants’ report exploring the Governor’s controversial plan to bring private insurers back to run Medicaid in Connecticut. The report’s authors agree with advocates that there is no evidence that MCOs control costs or improve quality or access to care. They also agree that HUSKY, our state Medicaid program, is…
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