US overdose deaths down but no change for Connecticut

Americans’ life expectancy increased in 2018 for the first time since 2014. From 2014 through 2017, life expectancy fell 0.3 years, twice as much for American men as women.  The drop was largely attributed to the sharp rise in overdose deaths during those years. Nationally, overdose deaths fell from 21.7 to 20.7 per 100,000 population…

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CTNJ – Op-Ed: The Individual Mandate Was Never Necessary, But Connecticut Knew That

Arguably the most contentious part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the individual mandate, requiring every American to secure healthcare coverage, appears to have made little difference since Congress removed the penalty last year. Connecticut considered passing a state-level individual mandate both before the ACA and more recently as the ACA has been in peril.…

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Evidence that children with private or Medicaid coverage both at risk of low-value care

A new study finds that both Medicaid and privately insured children frequently receive healthcare services that do not improve health. There has been an assumption that because providers are paid less by Medicaid, they have no incentive to provide unnecessary services. The study, published in Pediatrics, analyzed records from almost 7 million American children in…

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CT is the second most expensive state for smokers

Smoking costs Connecticut smokers $2,447, 965 over a lifetime, behind only New York smokers, according to a new analysis by Wallet Hub. Not only is smoking the leading preventable cause of death, killing 480,000 Americans each year, accounting for one in five deaths, but it is also a substantial economic burden on smokers and their…

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New report explains CT health disparities

Babies of black mothers in Connecticut are over four times more likely to die in their first year than babies born to white mothers, according to a new report from the CT Health Foundation. Black state residents die at 1.2 times the rate of whites. Overall Connecticut residents are among the healthiest in the nation,…

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PCMH (no Plus) program continues to grow and improve care

At MAPOC’s Care Management Committee meeting Wednesday, the state provided the latest numbers from the successful Person-Centered Medical Home program. PCMHs are primary care practices that coordinate care for patients, offer expanded hours, and address population health needs. The program continues to grow, adding 52 primary care providers and seven new sites of care in…

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Help us improve consumer advocacy in Connecticut

With support from the CT Health Foundation, the CT Health Policy Project is updating our online Health Advocacy Toolbox. The Toolbox was created twenty years ago to give individual consumers and community organizations in Connecticut tools to effectively engage in health policy advocacy at the state level. Too often motivated consumers, especially from underserved communities,…

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CTNJ Op-Ed: Connecting hospitals with community services is a good first step

It’s great that Connecticut hospitals are using technology to help busy providers connect patients with community services. Without basics like healthy food and safe shelter, patients can’t heal and healthcare costs rise. But referrals are only the first step. The institutions in communities on the other end of the referrals that provide those critical services…

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CT state budget spends less on Medicaid than other states, saving $209 million

The latest MACStats data release repeated trends from years ago but held a few new nuggets. Last July 857,415, or one in four, Connecticut residents were covered by Medicaid. Connecticut spent 14.9% of our state budget on Medicaid, below the US average of 16%. Our surrounding states were all above the US average — Massachusetts…

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