Patient Centered Medical Home Resources - CT Health Policy

Survey of CT ACOs – early yet, good intentions but uncertain future

By Ellen Andrews | March 7, 2016 |

Together with the Hartford Business Journal, the CT Health Policy Project conducted the first survey of CT ACOs finding some unexpected findings. ACOs are networks of providers across the continuum that coordinate high-quality care for people and receive a share of the savings they generate. ACOs are a foundation for efforts to reform health care…

SIM’s CCIP proposal for Medicaid reform – poor process drives weak plan

By Ellen Andrews | February 23, 2016 |

Public comments from the CT Health Policy Project raise deep concerns about SIM’s proposal for Medicaid reform requirements could undermine hard-won successes in the program and may not achieve the goals. The Community and Clinical Integration Plan (CCIP) is SIM’s plan for community-based resources to support Medicaid advanced networks that will be sharing in savings…

Advocates urge SIM not to disrupt successful Medicaid PCMH program

By Ellen Andrews | December 28, 2015 |

In a letter to SIM steering committee members, the Medicaid Study Group urged support for DSS’s decision to build Medicaid reforms on the successful person-centered medical home program. Specifically the Group applauded DSS’s decision to only include members served by certified PCMHs in the new, untested shared savings model being planned for Medicaid. The Medicaid…

Advocates’ guide to underservice recommendations

By Ellen Andrews | August 7, 2015 |

Connecticut’s State Innovation Model (SIM) is seeking to radically transform our state’s $30 billion health system by aligning incentives to build value. SIM 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…

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…

Webinar online – Caring for high-need patients – Lessons for CT

By Ellen Andrews | June 24, 2015 |

Evidence is growing that we cannot fix our health care system without addressing the needs of the small number of patients with very complex and costly health problems. Connecticut can learn from other programs across the US as we build reforms for our state and our Medicaid program. On this week’s webinar we heard from…

Health reform update – the power of price transparency, more SIM concerns

By Ellen Andrews | March 13, 2015 |

At an important Public Health Committee hearing Wednesday, Senate leaders from both parties testified together on a slate of seven bills that would make a great start to reforming health care in our state. Among other things the bills address facility fees, price variation that has no relation to quality, hospital consolidation oversight, EMR assistance…

SIM update – PCMH standards undermined, weak ethics adopted, but underservice group is moving forward

By Ellen Andrews | February 6, 2015 |

Again, SIM takes one step forward but two steps back. At yesterday’s steering committee meeting, SIM adopted an ineffective, weak conflict of interest policy, without a vote or any discussion. The policy would allow members to bid on significant SIM contracts that they had a substantial role in defining, potentially advantaging their company, provider or…

SIM decision to use national PCMH standards affirmed – again

By Ellen Andrews | October 15, 2014 |

At last night’s SIM Practice Transformation committee meeting, consumer advocates were able to halt erosion of national standards for patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs). Following research and best practices and resisting misinformation, in June the committee voted to use nationally recognized NCQA standards for PCMHs in SIM. NCQA-recognized PCMHs are the foundation of CT Medicaid’s remarkable…

Medicaid, SIM committee update – PCMH success continues, SIM making important Medicaid decisions

By Ellen Andrews | September 11, 2014 |

The Care Coordination committee of MAPOC has been given responsibility for oversight and advice on SIM’s controversial new plans for Medicaid, especially the shared savings payment model. The committee’s original mission remains as well – to track Medicaid’s successful patient-centered medical home program. In yesterday’s meeting we heard more about continuing PCMH success. The number…