Top Stories of 2020
A year ago, our predictions for 2020 missed all but the recession. COVID has us giving up on predictions, so we’ll just take a look back at our top stories of this year.
Advocacy Toolbox now online — Updates include specific, real world tools for legislative, administrative, and state budget advocacy, how to change public opinion, finding and working in coalitions, effective communications, and a Decision Tree, if you don’t know where to start.
To make health premiums affordable, CT must address input costs – For sustainable cost control we have to address the prices and healthcare systems that are too big to negotiate.
Cost Cap project could reduce access to care, stifle efficiency and innovation, and increase disparities — Under cover of COVID, the administration is pursuing a controversial and expensive plan to cap healthcare costs. An important goal but the administration’s plan isn’t working elsewhere and risks serious unintended consequences.
HIE concerns from advocates and others — Sharing medical records between providers about just the patient they’re treating is a good thing. But there is no good reason to share with conflicted corporate interests.
COVID hit CT Medicaid hard — Connecticut Medicaid members were about 33% more likely to be diagnosed with COVID than other state residents.
Connecticut healthcare employment coming back — It seemed crazy that healthcare workers were being laid off during a pandemic. Thankfully it’s turning around.
CT hospital uncompensated care below US average. — Charity care and bad debt vary between hospitals and bear no relation to profits.
Fact Check: Do lower Medicaid provider payment rates cause higher commercial payment rates? – No, it’s a myth. Like other businesses, health systems charge whatever they can. More evidence
Medicaid switch from MCOs saving taxpayers billions — By last year, Connecticut taxpayers had saved $2.25 billion on our Medicaid program since 2012 when we replaced managed care plans with care coordination and quality improvement.