Two job openings

The health policy sector of the economy is doing its part to reduce unemployment. The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition is seeking a Director of Public Policy and eHealthConnecticut is seeking a CEO.

The new CEO of eHealthCT will lead the nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a sustainable, secure, private health information exchange in our state. eHealthCT is looking for a senior health care executive with an entrepreneurial approach. For more information, click here.

BCAC’s new Director of Public Policy will help the community coalition develop effective advocacy campaigns in areas such as early childhood, K-12 education, after-school programs, economic self-sufficiency and health care. Applicants should have experience in community organizing, policy and legislative advocacy, and coalition building. For more information, email information at cthealthpolicy.org.

The jobs are important, but so is the context. While the organizations seem very different, they have common goals. Connecticut needs to find more ways to bridge the gaps between policy cultures.
Ellen Andrews

Conversion to risk corridors in HUSKY seems less likely

As reported by Christine Stuart at CT News Junkie, in a meeting yesterday the Executive Committee of the Medicaid Managed Care Council considered HUSKY financing options outlined by DSS at the last Council meeting. The budget passed earlier this year includes $76 million in savings to move HUSKY from the current capitated system to a non-risk model where the state pays all medical bills and pays a fee to an outside company to administer the program. DSS favors a model that retains the current system with some, potential limits on profits and losses. Representatives from CMS on the phone emphasized that they do not favor any option and are not pushing CT into managed care. DSS also wants to extend whatever financing/managed care model is adopted for HUSKY to all Medicaid populations including the elderly and people with disabilities. All agreed that the current system is “broken” but without more information, they could not recommend any option. Most felt strongly that any new payment system should reward quality and value.
Ellen Andrews

Will Charter Oak survive?

An interesting story by Arielle Levin Becker at the CT Mirror asks whether Charter Oak will survive after Governor Rell leaves office. The best thing about Charter Oak is that people with pre-existing conditions are not excluded from coverage; under national health reform, that exclusion will be prohibited in all health insurance in 2014. It is also unclear whether some of Charter Oak’s limits in coverage that consumer advocates have criticized will be allowed in any coverage plan. There is also a question about the sustainability of funding. Currently, there are concerns that Charter Oak’s monthly $307 premiums are sufficient to sustain the costs of care for patients attracted to a safety net plan. As Charter Oak is now linked to HUSKY, insurers can spread the costs over a much larger pool. (An audit by the Comptroller’s Office found that the plans are overpaid in their HUSKY rates). If HUSKY converts to a non-risk model as is called for in the budget, in which plans are paid only an administrative fee and the state pays all medical bills, Charter Oak’s premiums will have to reflect just the higher risk of those consumers alone. Given the looming $3 billion deficit next year, it is unlikely that the state will subsidize the program. In the article, all the candidates for Governor expressed doubt about Charter Oak’s future.
Ellen Andrews

Win Win -- state cigarette tax increased revenue and reduced smoking

The $1/pack tax increase in cigarette taxes implemented last October brought in over $100 million while seven million fewer packs of cigarettes were sold, according to the Hartford Courant. It was expected that increasing taxes would both increase revenue and reduce cigarettes sold, but this increase brought in $5 million more than projected. The increase brought total taxes to $3/pack in CT, fourth highest in the nation but behind neighboring NY and RI. Over the last five years, the number of state residents who smoke and the number of packs sold has declined; about 17% of CT adults smoke.
Ellen Andrews

Almost half of Americans use a prescription medication each month

Forty eight percent of Americans reported that they had taken a prescription medication in the last month, according to new numbers from the CDC for 2007-2008. That number is up from 44% in the last ten years. Not only are more of us taking medications, but we are taking more drugs. The percentage of Americans taking five or more drugs grew from 6% to 11%; seniors are three times more likely to be taking five or more drugs than just one. Children and seniors are more likely to be taking medications; people without insurance or without prescription coverage are less likely. Americans without a regular place to access care are almost three times less likely to be taking prescription medications. The most commonly used medications were bronchodilators for children (for asthma), CNS stimulants for adolescents (attention deficit disorder), antidepressants for adults, and cholesterol lowering drugs for seniors. Prescription drug spending grew 3.2% from 2007 to 2008; that growth is expected to accelerate reaching 7.7% by 2019.
Ellen Andrews

Forty seven CT employers qualify for early retiree reinsurance program

Nationally less than one in three large firms offer health benefits to retirees. Premiums and deductibles for early retirees can be four times as much as for younger workers. National health reform included $5 billion for a temporary reinsurance program to help subsidize employer-sponsored retiree coverage for early retirees over age 55 but not yet eligible for Medicare. The program covers 80% of the costs of care for individuals between $15,000 and $90,000 in claims. HHS just approved the applications of forty seven CT employers for the program including the state employee plan. The plan is intended to continue until 2014 when state insurance exchanges will offer everyone affordable options. However, analysts estimate that the $5 billion appropriation is not enough and may run out as soon as 2012.
Ellen Andrews

September webquiz -- CT teens and risky behavior

Test your knowledge of CT teens and risky behavior. Take the September CT Health Policy Webquiz.