NC employers buying into Medicaid patient-centered medical home system, CT NASW job posting

NC’s Medicaid patient-centered medical home network is so successful that large employers, including state employees, in the state are buying in for their workers. Bucking the private HMO-style managed care trend of other states in Medicaid, NC has had impressive improvements with a community-based PCMH network in improving access to and quality of care while…

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Comparative effectiveness council webinar

New technologies and treatments are a significant driver of skyrocketing health costs and the resulting overtreatment is harming our health. Join us for a webinar September 30th at 1pm with The New England Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council (CEPAC) to learn more about comparative effectiveness research and how it is being evaluated and applied in…

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Exceptional example of medical homes in a safety net clinic

A New England Journal of Medicine article highlights the success of Clinica Family Health Services, a safety net clinic serving a largely low income, Latino population near Denver. Half of Clinica’s patients are uninsured. Over the last thirteen years, Clinica has implemented both the chronic care and PCMH models of care. Important lessons include the…

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Insurance Exchange Board members dominated by insurance interests, no consumer representatives

Members of CT Health Insurance Exchange Board were announced last evening. Despite federal law calling for a majority of members to represent consumers, there are no consumer advocate voting members. (Thankfully Vicki Veltri, State Health Care Advocate, will sit at the table but cannot vote.) In addition, three members have long ties to insurance companies…

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Updated CT health policy 101 primer

The updated primer on health policy in CT used for CT Health Policy Project student and volunteer training is online. The primer covers background on health financing, public coverage programs, private insurance, the uninsured, Affordable Care Act implantation, SustiNet, politics and trends in CT and what you can do about it.

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Boston hospital gives doctors treatment price list

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has taken the revolutionary step of giving primary care providers a one page price list for 56 services they routinely order for patients. Doctors generally have no idea what services cost and many are shocked by the list. Just providing the information has changed ordering habits and challenged the traditional…

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Advocates urge CT Health Insurance Exchange Board members to consider consumers’ needs

In a letter to the newly appointed members of the CT Health Insurance Exchange Board, eleven consumer advocacy organizations offered to help in their important work and urged the members to keep the needs of consumers in mind in all decisions. The insurance exchange was created in response to national health reform; most states are…

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Regulations making insurance easier to understand; Survey finds businesses expect big increase in health costs next year

Yesterday HHS released long-awaited proposed rules for the Summary of Benefits and Coverage to be given to every consumer by March 23, 2012. The Summary is a brief document, explaining in simple, consistent language basic information about each health plan offering including what is and isn’t covered, consumer costs and how they are broken out…

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Comparing 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…

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