research
Fact Check: No correlation between CT hospital Medicaid share and profits
Download the data Connecticut hospitals have asserted that state Medicaid payment rates undermine hospital margins and force higher private plan rates. But the evidence doesn’t support the first assertion and is mixed on the second. As in most states, Connecticut Medicaid hospital payment rates are lower than rates that commercial plans pay. It’s important to…
Read MoreNew tool finds CT employer health insurance costs 8th highest in US
A new Health Cost Landscape data tool finds that Connecticut residents spend 15% more than the national average on employer-sponsored health insurance coverage. Only seven states cost more. But because of higher average incomes, the burden of healthcare costs is lower here than for most Americans. High prices are the main force driving up Connecticut…
Read MoreAnalysis finds CT hospitals more efficient than most in US
A new study from the Lown Institute finds all but two Connecticut hospitals are more efficient than the median US hospital within 30 or 90 days after admission. However, no Connecticut hospitals are in the top 10 most efficient in the nation and there is significant variation between Connecticut hospitals. Greenwich and Bridgeport Hospitals are…
Read MoreCT Medicaid admin costs are 5th lowest in the nation, but CT fully insured plans are the 5th highest
Connecticut Medicaid spent $467 less per person in 2023 on administration and corporate profit than all most states, according to a new study published in Health Affairs. However, state residents in fully-insured health plans spent $412 more for administration and profit than most Americans, according to the authors from Brown University. In fully insured plans,…
Read MoreAdvocacy Toolbox resources for legislative session
Connecticut’s 2026 legislative session starts this Wednesday, February 4th and healthcare will be a hot topic this year. Just a few of the issues that will be debated include affordable private insurance, federal Medicaid cuts, private equity protections, and supporting public health through the federal cuts. For anyone advocating this session, we have tons of…
Read MoreACA chapter in CT Healthcare Explained updated
We’ve updated the Affordable Care Act chapter of CT Healthcare Explained. The update was prompted by new numbers and new topics, including what we know about COVID insurance subsidies lapsing. CT Healthcare Explained is our explainer website cutting through the complexities of our state’s healthcare system. Like the other 17 topic sections, the ACA chapter…
Read MoreNew resource on CT health equity
Making data actionable, the Connecticut Health Equity Dashboards offer a single source of detailed information on important health and social determinants at the town and neighborhood levels. Created by the state Office of Health Strategy, the site compares dozens of metrics across chronic care management, burden of disease, complications and poor outcomes, access to prevention,…
Read MoreAnalysis: Why is quality always TBD?
The quality of healthcare in Connecticut is average at best. Poor quality care compromises our health. But too often, improving quality is an afterthought. Paying less for poor quality is no bargain. We need both quality improvement and cost control. Thankfully, improving quality saves money. Read more
Read MoreReference pricing lowers healthcare prices, could save CT millions
Hospital prices are driving up healthcare costs making coverage unaffordable, in Connecticut and across the US. It’s hard to reduce hospital prices, especially in consolidated markets like Connecticut’s, where huge health systems have monopoly power to demand steep prices. But since 2019, Oregon has been saving $50 million annually on just their state employee plan,…
Read MoreBook Club: The Seven Rules of Trust
There’s been a lot of hand wringing about trust lately. The loss of trust in science, government, institutions, and organizations has serious consequences. When it’s lost, it’s hard to repair. The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things that Last is an excellent place to start exploring how to fix the mess we’ve…
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