ACOs
CT healthcare costs grew faster than ever in 2023, but Medicaid bucked the trend
Download the analysis This month, the Office of Health Strategy (OHS) released their three annual Healthcare Benchmark reports. The main event, the Cost Growth Benchmark Report, finds that healthcare costs rose by 7.8% in 2023, well above the 2.9% benchmark set by an old OHS committee based on economic indicators. This is the third year…
Read MoreReform section updated in CT Healthcare Explained
We’ve updated the Reform chapter of CT Healthcare Explained, our explainer website cutting through the complexities of our state’s healthcare system. Like the other 17 topic sections, Reform includes a Basics summary and a much longer Deeper Dive into the issue. In the left hand box, you can skip to your specific question. There is…
Read MoreCTNJ Analysis: It’s Time To End HUSKY’s ‘Value-Based’ Medicaid Program
Connecticut’s Person-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Plus program has been troubled from its start in 2017, and it’s time to go in a new direction. Read more
Read MoreAnalysis: Hartford HealthCare Settlement with St. Francis Still Leaves Two Important Class Action Suits Active
CT News Junkie reports that St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center has reached a settlement with Hartford HealthCare in their lawsuit alleging unfair business practices. It’s good that St. Francis’s complaints as a competitor have been addressed, but the concerns of consumers and payers are still outstanding in two class action lawsuits against Hartford HealthCare.…
Read MoreAnalysis: Despite the name, value is not the solution for raging healthcare costs
The murder of a United health executive has intensified very strong reactions to America’s broken healthcare system. Unfortunately, too many opportunists are using this tragedy to push a tired, failed agenda – value-based care and its corollary, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Read more
Read MoreWandering around in OHS’s databases – lots to learn and a surprise
Our state Office of Health Strategy has several impressive portals and dashboards to explore their trove of data and other information. They include healthcare affordability, ED visits, quality ratings, facility plans, self-sufficiency tools, hospital finances, prescription drug costs, and Race, ethnicity and language data. Visitors can sort the data by service, payer, age, gender, and…
Read MoreHUSKY maternal health bundle questions 2.0
Based on DSS’s MAPOC presentation Friday on plans for maternity bundled payments, the CT Health Policy Project submitted some questions about the plan. The commendable goals of the plan are to improve health outcomes, equity, quality, and access to care while controlling costs through care management and greater efficiency. DSS plans to pay obstetrics practices…
Read MoreSix common myths about healthcare and three reasons why people believe them
Healthcare is complicated, people are easily confused, and there are powerful motivations to believe the many misconceptions. I was reminded of this at the last meeting of the industry-led group that is steering the state’s efforts to control healthcare costs. But the problem isn’t limited to industry representatives. Read more
Read MoreReport estimates CT will be short 5,700 healthcare providers by 2028, but far better than other states
Download the analysis A new report from Mercer estimates shortages, and surpluses, in critical health care provider categories in 2028 by state. There is wide variation between states in demand. In good news – Connecticut’s projected shortages are limited and fairly modest. New York, however, is in serious trouble. Across five critical categories, the researchers…
Read MoreCT Mirror Opinion: Keep MCOs out of HUSKY health care
“In the past, managed care organizations were a disaster for Connecticut’s Medicaid program“ Former legislator, Medicaid provider, member of Medicaid’s state oversight council, and champion for member access to care who lived through the MCO years, Vickie Nardello says, “ I strongly disagree with Gov. Ned Lamont’s plan to bring managed care organizations (MCOs) back…
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