workforce - CT Health Policy

25 Advocacy organizations urge legislative leaders to drop OHS Primary Care Roadmap

By Ellen Andrews | February 17, 2022 |

Download the letter On Tuesday, twenty-five independent advocacy organizations, including the CT Health Policy Project, sent a letter to Connecticut legislative leaders voicing concerns with the Office of Health Strategy’s (OHS’s) controversial “Roadmap for Strengthening and Sustaining Primary Care”. Advocates are concerned that the Roadmap diverts $3.9 billion/year when fully implemented in 2025 away from…

Book Club: The Premonition — A Pandemic Story

By Ellen Andrews | February 8, 2022 |

Michael Lewis’s latest book, The Premonition – A Pandemic Story, dives deep into an untold story of how COVID crept up on the US healthcare system, particularly the state and federal agencies that were supposed to be watching and to know what to do. It’s a story of bureaucrats playing it safe while sacrificing our…

Guest Blog: Why Advocacy Tools Matter by Haley Magnetta

By Ellen Andrews | December 30, 2021 |

You want to make a difference, but advocacy can be confusing, frustrating, and time-consuming. We can help. Sign up for Today’s Advocacy Tool – a month of inspiration, tips, and practical tools starting January 10. As a practicing Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I could not help but notice many areas where…

Response to OHS primary care capitation defense

By Ellen Andrews | November 15, 2021 |

Today, the CT Health Policy Project responded to a letter from the Office of Health Strategy regarding concerns from 25 independent consumer advocates, providers, and organizations. OHS’s response to our offer to work together to improve the health of every Connecticut resident is very welcome. In that spirit, the letter clarifies a few misunderstandings of…

CT Healthcare employment is slowly rebounding, except for nursing homes

By Ellen Andrews | October 25, 2021 |

Download the report Like other Connecticut workers, healthcare employment was hit hard by the pandemic in March 2020, according to data from the CT Department of Labor. Since then, hospital employment has partially rebounded but not in nursing and residential facilities. At its start, the COVID pandemic sharply increased demand in a few healthcare sectors…

CTNJ op-ed: Patient-centered or doctor-centered? Primary care planning is off track

By Ellen Andrews | October 20, 2021 |

Several state agencies and their committees are planning to expand primary care in Connecticut – that’s a good thing. But it’s being driven by primary care doctors and their needs rather than patients. Read more

CT ‘deaths of despair’ high and rising faster than other states

By Ellen Andrews | June 1, 2021 |

In 2019 per capita, Connecticut had 19% more deaths due to alcohol, drugs or suicide and these deaths of despair increased over four times faster than the US average, according to a new report from the Trust for America’s Health. Connecticut’s rates of drug-induced deaths were largely responsible at 58% higher than the US average.…

CT’s well-being is improving, even during the pandemic

By Ellen Andrews | May 27, 2021 |

Connecticut ranked seventh among states in overall health and well-being last year, according to the latest Community Well-Being Index from the BU School of Public Health. According to the Index, “well-being is about the interaction between physical health, finding your daily work and experiences fulfilling, having strong social relationships and access to the resources you…

CT housing and economic development training institute now accepting applications

By Ellen Andrews | December 21, 2020 |

Housing and health are intimately linked. Housing that is unstable, unsafe, poor quality, and a financial burden all affects the health of residents and communities. As these challenges grow, Connecticut’s housing and economic development workforce is predominantly male, white, and growing older. Professionals in the field are retiring at a faster rate than new entries…