New faces at the CT Health Policy Project

We are pleased to announce two additions to the CT Health Policy Project community. Jen Ramirez, MSW has joined us as Director of Programs. Jen will be in charge of the Consumer Health Action Network, including newsletters, surveys and advocacy, as well as several policy areas. Jen has worked at the Latino Policy Institute of the Hispanic Health Council, the Partnership for Strong Communities, CCAG and as an eligibility worker at DSS. We are excited to have her policy experience and sensitivity to consumers’ needs here at the Project. (And to students and former staff, we've already taken Jen's picture for the wall.)
Hillary Waldman has also joined our Board of Directors. Now at the Hispanic Health Council, until recently Hillary was the health care reporter at the Hartford Courant for twenty years.
Please join us in welcoming Jen and Hillary.

PCCM could save HUSKY more than $100 million over HMOs

An analysis by the CT Health Policy Project estimates that it will cost the state $113 million more annually to moving HUSKY families to HMOs than to Primary Care Case Management (PCCM). PCCM is a way of running HUSKY without HMOs, by creating “medical homes” to coordinate care. PCCM has been successful in thirty other states providing better health outcomes, and higher consumer and provider satisfaction and saving money. The estimates are based on total HUSKY program costs reported by DSS for November 2007 (before the capitated HMOs left the program) and May 2008 (during the fee-for-service transition) adjusted for HMO and PCCM administrative fees and the 24% rate increase granted to HMOs this year. Policymakers facing difficult program decisions due to this year’s significant budget deficit are taking note.
Ellen Andrews

Second PCCM provider forum also successful

Last night, DSS held their second forum for providers on PCCM at DSS’ offices in Hartford. Again the event was very well attended and most providers were enthusiastic about the program. As in Tuesday’s forum, concerns about adequate adult medicine resources were raised, but in at least one case community adult and pediatric providers linked up at the meeting to collaborate in providing care in their area. Concerns were also raised about marketing guidelines and how families will be informed about this new option.
Ellen Andrews

Governor agrees to delay HUSKY defaults until February

Yesterday legislators and the Attorney General held a press conference urging Governor Rell to delay forcing 250,000 HUSKY families into HMOs with inadequate provider networks. Families were scheduled to be defaulted into three HUSKY HMOs December 1st including two new health plans, Aetna Better Health and AmeriChoice, which have had difficulty enrolling providers. Just after the press conference, the Governor announced she would delay the default until February 1st. It has been reported that CMS also urged the state to delay defaulting families. Advocates have urged the state to focus on the PCCM pilot project scheduled to begin January 1st as a less costly alternative, more attractive option to the HMOs for HUSKY families.
Ellen Andrews

Possible legal action to stop HUSKY families default into HMOs

Kevin Lembo, CT’s Health Care Advocate, plans to sue the state to stop the planned December 1st mandatory transition of over 200,000 HUSKY consumers into managed care plans that do not have adequate provider networks. Lembo and a growing group of advocates and officials have been concerned that the planned transition will lead to many consumers unable to access necessary services and worries about the impact on HUSKY families’ health. DSS has been under pressure at Medicaid Managed Care Council meetings for months to delay the transition and reportedly CMS has also urged DSS to reconsider. DSS has asked CMS for an additional four months for the transition if needed.
Ellen Andrews

Successful PCCM provider forum last night

Over 30 providers attended the PCCM forum held with DSS at our offices in New Haven last night. We had to get more chairs and make extra copies of the materials. There was a great deal of enthusiasm for the program and most providers suggested that they will be filling out an application. Most providers attending were pediatric; there are concerns about getting enough adult providers to participate in HUSKY – either PCCM or the HMOs. However DSS noted that they have received inquiries from adult providers about PCCM and community health centers are enthusiastic about participating. Aetna’s medical director attended and was offered an opportunity to speak by DSS.
Ellen Andrews

Photography exhibit highlighting racial and ethnic disparities

Friday afternoon 2pm at New Haven City Hall there will be a reception to feature an exhibit of photographs taken by ten African American women highlighting issues that make it difficult to live healthy lifestyles to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities. Senator Toni Harp, our Board President, joined the project as a photographer-for-a-day. The exhibit includes 48 photographs, commentary and statistics. The project was led by Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center with funding from the CT Health Foundation.