At today’s Health Care Cabinet, we heard about the RFP
for health care planning made possible by passage of SB-811 this year.
Section 17 of the law directs the Cabinet to compare mechanisms to improve
health care value in Connecticut looking to other states and assessing what
would work best here. The plan for the grant is thoughtful, focuses on engaging
all stakeholders to collect the best ideas, and improving communications across
CT’s health care landscape. The plan holds great promise to address the
shortfalls of past and current reform efforts. Advocates sent a letter
in July supporting the project and offering our help.
We also heard from SIM about a CMS-led summit meeting and strong
federal pressure toward narrowly defined, strong payment models. It was pointed
out that evidence of effectiveness to date for these new payment models is very
sparse and mixed. While CT should learn from federal and other states’
experience, we have to chart a course that makes sense for our state. Our Medicaid
program has reversed our history of poor performance and is now saving
money, improving quality, increasing access to care, and improving consumer
experience of care. No one wants to jeopardize that progress. SIM leaders
disagreed saying that CT can chart its own course, but that course will align
with federal directives.
