research
Cabinet meeting update
This month’s Cabinet meeting included updates on SIM, the insurance exchange and CT’s APCD. SIM leaders reported that with the delay offered by HHS the new deadline for the state health plan model is the end of this year. They expect to have a first draft for public release sometime in October. The testing…
Read MoreNew action guide on Community Health Workers
ICER has published an action guide, Community Health Workers: Applying the Evidence to Policy and Practice, to effectively incorporating Community Health Workers into the health system for the CHW workforce, insurers, and providers and organizations that employ CHWs. The guide, based on CPAC’s CHW effectiveness report, gives evidence-based action steps tailored to the needs of…
Read MoreJune CT Health Policy Webquiz: CT’s All Payer Claims Database
Test your knowledge of All Payer Claims Databases and what one could mean for Connecticut. Take the June CT Health Policy Webquiz.
Read MoreCT’s All Payer Claims Database – an important opportunity, if we do it right
A new report for the CT Health Foundation outlines CT’s progress and future options toward developing an All-Payer Claims Database (APCD). Putting all health care claims in the state across providers, payers and regions in one place would allow better health resource planning, identification of hotspots of high utilization, develop targeted solutions, improve patient safety…
Read MoreComparing US and Canadian health systems
Last week’s CSG/ERC annual meeting in Halifax, NS featured a plenary session comparing health systems across the border. Despite distinct financing mechanisms there were many common challenges including skyrocketing costs, struggles to improve quality and ensuring adequate workforce. Speakers included Rep. Laurie Harding (NH), Asm. Richard Gottfried (NY), Paula Roy (DE Health Care Commission), MLA…
Read MoreRAND report predicts reform will save CT state government 10% on health care spending
A new economic modeling analysis by RAND for the Council of State Governments estimates that 170,000 more CT residents will gain coverage by 2016 under health reform bringing our uninsured rate from 11% to 5%. The report also predicts that slightly more employers will offer coverage; employers will remain the largest source of coverage for…
Read MoreGeek alert: New report on geographic variation in Medicare spending
Huge variations in health care spending per person between different regions of the US have generated a lot of interest in the last year or two. The variations cannot be explained by the incidence of disease, demographics, or even prices. You won’t be surprised to hear that CT is a very expensive state. There is…
Read MoreNew report on states and quality-based purchasing
Health care consumes 17% of America’s economy and, sometime this year, government’s share of that spending will pass 50%. A consensus is growing that the way we pay for health care is driving costs. The current fee-for-service system encourages utilization and does nothing to improve quality. States have important and unique roles in the health…
Read MoreCT a leader in children’s oral health
Some good news for a change – CT is recognized as a national leader in getting dental care to children in a new report by the Pew Center for the States. The proportion of children on Medicaid receiving dental care has been rising since 2005 up to 41.4%. It’s true that is low, well below…
Read MoreMy favorite end of the year list
Time’s Top Ten Scientific Discoveries of 2009 includes epigenetics, water on the moon, and gene therapy curing color blindness. Some days I miss my old job, but then I learned from the list that robots can do science now. Happy New Year. Ellen Andrews
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