healthcare markets - CT Health Policy

Report details dangers of hospital consolidation, especially YNHH and L&M

By Ellen Andrews | December 8, 2015 |

A new report by a coalition of labor and consumer advocacy groups including the CT Health Policy Project, calls for caution and more study before the state approves pending hospital consolidations. Concentration in CT’s health care system is being driven by new, untested shared savings payment reform models being adopted in Medicare, Medicaid and private…

Advocates’ guide to underservice recommendations

By Ellen Andrews | August 4, 2015 |

SIM is seeking to radically transform our state’s $30 billion health system and has chosen a shared savings payment model for those reforms. Advocates are concerned about incentives to deny necessary care under the new payment model, as happened in the past. SIM’s Equity and Access Council was charged with developing protections to limit and…

87-page health bill goes to Governor’s desk

By Ellen Andrews | June 2, 2015 |

The House and Senate have passed SB-811, now on it’s way to the Governor. The bill includesprice and consumer cost notices and websites to help consumers shop for services, sets some limits on facility fees charged by hospitals and outpatient providers, adds to the factors and studies required in considering hospital purchases, and limits bills…

Provider consolidation, facility fee forum testimony

By Ellen Andrews | December 3, 2014 |

At 2:30 today at the Legislative Office Building, the Office of State Comptroller will hold a forum and public hearing on increasing consolidation in CT’s health care system and the growing impact of facility fee charges. Invited speakers include hospitals and insurers. At 4pm the public will have a chance to comment. TheCT Health Policy…

Payment reform webinar slides and video posted

By Ellen Andrews | November 19, 2014 |

Yesterday Bob Berenson of the Urban Institute graciously walked dozens of webinar participants through the pros and cons of the main payment reform options – fee-for-service, capitation/population-based payment, shared savings and bundles/episodes – and the key challenges of each. Several CT plans are now considering implementing shared savings models, including Medicaid. The main takeaways, from…

Healthcare tops US nonprofit employment; CT health care employs one in seven private sector workers; state health care workers average 25% higher pay

By Ellen Andrews | November 6, 2014 |

At 7.7 million workers, healthcare and social assistance employment topped other industries in US nonprofits in 2012 with more than four times as many workers as the next largest category (education), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, healthcare and social assistance wages at US nonprofits was about average among industries, averaging $47,324 that…

Malloy signs bills allowing for-profit hospital conversions and not allowing e-cigarettes for minors

By Ellen Andrews | June 4, 2014 |

Among the 23 bills signed by Gov. Malloy yesterday was SB-35which eases CT hospitals’ conversion to for-profit status, however with more restrictions and protections for patients and workers. The Governor also signed SB-24making the sale of e-cigarettes to minors illegal.

Hospital conversion bill passed, but outcome not clear

By Ellen Andrews | May 9, 2014 |

In the last hours of the session the General Assembly passed legislation regarding for-profit hospital conversions and hospitals’ ability to merge with physician practices. The legislation was proposed in response to Tenet’s plans to partner with Yale-New Haven, Waterbury, Manchester, Rockville, and Bristol hospitals. The deal required the ability of for-profits to purchase physician practices.…

CT sick leave law — many benefit, little or no impact on businesses

By Ellen Andrews | March 7, 2014 |

Final results from a study confirm that, contrary to predictions, CT’s 2011 paid sick leave law did not cause an undue burden on businesses or the state’s economy. Confirming preliminary results, the study found that the law has brought important relief to tens of thousands of workers, predominantly in health/education/social services, hospitality and retail establishments,…

Paid sick leave not a burden on CT businesses

By Ellen Andrews | January 8, 2014 |

Two years ago CT became the first state to require businesses with 50 or more employees to cover sick leave for workers. A new survey finds that, despite concerns, the policy has largely been a non-issue for CT businesses. The change in policy had little impact and little to no cost for companies but did…