New to the Book Club – national health reform

The newest addition to the CT Health Policy Project Book Club, Landmark: The Inside Story of America’s New Health-Care Law and What It Means for Us All by the Staff of the Washington Post, details the ups and downs of how national health reform passed this year, highlighting the players. Our Sen. Lieberman got his…

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Don’t forget to vote, compare candidates on health care

It’d be hard to miss, but today is Primary Day in dozens of races around the state. Today Democrats and Republicans will choose their candidates for Governor. If you are still confused about the candidates’ positions on health care, check out our Candidate Compare. The polls are now and stay open until 8pm.

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21% of CT adults are obese

Over one in five adults in our state were obese in 2009, up from 12.5% in 1995. While that is bad, we are below the even worse US average of 26.7%. As in the rest of the US, CT adults between the ages of 45 and 54, men, and blacks are at greatest risk. College…

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Eastern region state/provincial updates

The latest health policy updates from the CSG/ERC states and provinces has been posted. The region includes states from New England south through Maryland and west to Pennsylvania; we also cover the Canadian provinces from Newfoundland west to Ontario. CSG/ERC’s health committee includes over 50 executive and legislative branch state and provincial policymakers.

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Enhanced Medicaid match funding moving through Senate

The Senate has reached a deal on an extension of the enhanced Medicaid matching funds that most states had already counted on in budgets. CT’s current year budget included $266 million in expected funding which was scaled back to $199 as part of the deal. However, states were concerned that none of the funding would…

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CT gets $695,000 for electronic health records in Medicaid

CMS has awarded CT $695,000 in federal matching funds under the federal stimulus program for state planning activities to implement electronic health records in the Medicaid program. This funding will match state spending at the 90% rate – the state needs to contribute only $77,222 to access the full federal amount. The funding will help…

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Candidate compare for next Tuesday’s primary

Connecticut’s next administration will face significant health care challenges but also benefit from unique and historic opportunities to improve our state’s health. For health care voters in next Tuesday’s primary, we’ve collected health care policies from the major candidates running for Governor.

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August webquiz – Have you read the SustiNet reports?

The SustiNet task forces and advisory committees have completed their final reports. The committees explored and made recommendations on CT’s health care workforce, obesity, tobacco, prevention, disparities, information technology, quality/providers, and patient-centered medical homes. Since we’re sure you’ve all added the reports to your beach reading for the summer, take a pop quiz. The August…

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CT hospitals cutting costs and jobs

St. Francis hospital will be laying off 200 workers and other CT hospitals are also cutting payroll, according to the Hartford Courant. Like other CT businesses, the cuts are due to the recession, in part, increasing the number of patients who can’t pay their bills, the number on public coverage such as HUSKY which pays…

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