Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Obesity and overweight in Connecticut forum
May 14th the CT Public Health Institute will release their study of the problem of overweight and obesity in CT including background, costs and consequences, and possible interventions. The forum was originally scheduled for May 5th. The study was funded by the Universal Health Care Foundation of CT. The forum will be at the Wilde Auditorium, University of Hartford from 8:30 to 11:30 am on that Thursday. For more information, contact Katherine Kranz Lewis at kalewis@hartford.edu or (860) 768-5464.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
eHealth consumer privacy forum begins an important discussion
The Connecticut Health Policy Project and AARP- CT hosted a forum yesterday on electronic medical records at the State Capitol in Hartford – eHealth: Why Consumers Should Care. The purpose of the forum was to provide information about electronic medical records and to get input from advocates and consumers on privacy and security issues. The forum was well-attended and the audience had the opportunity to participate by asking questions and making comments. Speakers included Kevin Carr, MD, from Trusted Medical, Brenda Kelley of AARP-CT, and Ellen Andrews from the CT Health Policy Project.
The problems with the health care system in CT were discussed including quality lapses, rising costs, and increasing rates of chronic disease. 17% of Americans report that test results or medical records were not available at a medical appointment in the last two years; that rate is twice as high for low income as for higher income patients. The potential benefits of electronic health information include preventing medical errors, coordinating care, improving public health surveillance, reducing paperwork, improving efficiency, saving money, and making health care more affordable for everyone.
All speakers emphasized that consumers and their advocates have an opportunity to build CT’s health information system with security and privacy built in from the beginning. This forum is the beginning of a conversation, not an end. There is a great deal of both federal money and coordination coming to ensure that health information technology grows. All stakeholders, in CT and in Washington, are welcoming, even seeking, consumer input into the design of systems.
Dr. Carr described electronic medical records and showed a few examples so the audience could see what they look like. He showed a fictional electronic medical chart for a patient with allergies and a list of what medications the patient is taking. Dr. Carr emphasized that electronic health records put patients at the center of health care. The purpose of sharing health information through electronic medical records is to improve medical care.
The audience was very involved in the discussion by asking questions and sharing their concerns. Vicki Veltri, General Counsel for the Office of the Health Care Advocate, was very concerned about medical records being sold to insurance companies and thought this should not be allowed to happen. Dr. Carr said that they would follow the rules established for the governing body of the Health Information Exchange.
Shawn Lang, from the CT AIDS Resource Coalition, asked about how patients with HIV could control the sharing of information. Dr. Carr responded that this needs to be addressed in CT. In other states, the information might only be released to a primary care doctor. If the patient doesn’t want to share it with other doctors he or she can opt out of showing that information.
Jill Zorn, from the Universal Health Care Foundation, asked who owns the medical record because most doctors’ offices think that they do, but ideally the patient would. Dr. Carr answered that the data in the system is seen as belonging to the providers. When the information is being exchanged (between doctors) it becomes the patient’s and it is under the patient’s control.
The CT Health Policy Project has developed a resource page on our website for advocates to follow and join the discussion. It includes a glossary of terms.
Jen Ramirez and Ellen Andrews
The problems with the health care system in CT were discussed including quality lapses, rising costs, and increasing rates of chronic disease. 17% of Americans report that test results or medical records were not available at a medical appointment in the last two years; that rate is twice as high for low income as for higher income patients. The potential benefits of electronic health information include preventing medical errors, coordinating care, improving public health surveillance, reducing paperwork, improving efficiency, saving money, and making health care more affordable for everyone.
All speakers emphasized that consumers and their advocates have an opportunity to build CT’s health information system with security and privacy built in from the beginning. This forum is the beginning of a conversation, not an end. There is a great deal of both federal money and coordination coming to ensure that health information technology grows. All stakeholders, in CT and in Washington, are welcoming, even seeking, consumer input into the design of systems.
Dr. Carr described electronic medical records and showed a few examples so the audience could see what they look like. He showed a fictional electronic medical chart for a patient with allergies and a list of what medications the patient is taking. Dr. Carr emphasized that electronic health records put patients at the center of health care. The purpose of sharing health information through electronic medical records is to improve medical care.
The audience was very involved in the discussion by asking questions and sharing their concerns. Vicki Veltri, General Counsel for the Office of the Health Care Advocate, was very concerned about medical records being sold to insurance companies and thought this should not be allowed to happen. Dr. Carr said that they would follow the rules established for the governing body of the Health Information Exchange.
Shawn Lang, from the CT AIDS Resource Coalition, asked about how patients with HIV could control the sharing of information. Dr. Carr responded that this needs to be addressed in CT. In other states, the information might only be released to a primary care doctor. If the patient doesn’t want to share it with other doctors he or she can opt out of showing that information.
Jill Zorn, from the Universal Health Care Foundation, asked who owns the medical record because most doctors’ offices think that they do, but ideally the patient would. Dr. Carr answered that the data in the system is seen as belonging to the providers. When the information is being exchanged (between doctors) it becomes the patient’s and it is under the patient’s control.
The CT Health Policy Project has developed a resource page on our website for advocates to follow and join the discussion. It includes a glossary of terms.
Jen Ramirez and Ellen Andrews
Friday, April 17, 2009
Medicaid Managed Care Council update
At today’s meeting, ACS reported that there are 337,533 CT residents covered by HUSKY Part A as of April 1st, up more than 6,000 from March. HUSKY Part B now covers 15,063, moving back toward its pre-July 08 levels. There are also 7,068 people covered by the Charter Oak Plan, however 3,319 Charter Oak applications were denied in March. (Probably a high number due to elimination of backlogs; 1,210 were denied in February). ACS will be reporting on the reasons for denials, including how many are ineligible because they have not been uninsured for six months.
DSS described the PCCM amendment to the HUSKY waiver that was passed by the Human Services and Appropriations Committees March 31st. The department is planning provider and consumer mailings to open participation in the program. A brochure is in development. Objections were raised to DSS’s intention to hire Mercer for the evaluation of the program; the Council will explore other sources of funding to commission an independent auditor. The Council created a PCCM subcommittee to be Co-Chaired by Rep. Toni Walker, Co-Chair of Human Services, and myself.
DSS reported on significant expansions of the dental provider network under the dental carve-out. There are now 835 participating providers. At a previous meeting, it was reported that before the carve out there were 174 dental providers participating in HUSKY. A mystery shopper survey of the provider panel conducted in February and March found that between 77 and 93% of callers were able to secure an appointment with the contracted 8 weeks. The carve out also has a new name, the CT Dental Health Partnership, and a logo. The need to dispel old perceptions of the program was emphasized including that there are few participating providers, that it is hard to get dental care in HUSKY, and they myth that oral health is less important than the rest of the body.
Ellen Andrews
DSS described the PCCM amendment to the HUSKY waiver that was passed by the Human Services and Appropriations Committees March 31st. The department is planning provider and consumer mailings to open participation in the program. A brochure is in development. Objections were raised to DSS’s intention to hire Mercer for the evaluation of the program; the Council will explore other sources of funding to commission an independent auditor. The Council created a PCCM subcommittee to be Co-Chaired by Rep. Toni Walker, Co-Chair of Human Services, and myself.
DSS reported on significant expansions of the dental provider network under the dental carve-out. There are now 835 participating providers. At a previous meeting, it was reported that before the carve out there were 174 dental providers participating in HUSKY. A mystery shopper survey of the provider panel conducted in February and March found that between 77 and 93% of callers were able to secure an appointment with the contracted 8 weeks. The carve out also has a new name, the CT Dental Health Partnership, and a logo. The need to dispel old perceptions of the program was emphasized including that there are few participating providers, that it is hard to get dental care in HUSKY, and they myth that oral health is less important than the rest of the body.
Ellen Andrews
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
What is public health?
The US is the most powerful country in the world, right? So why aren’t we the healthiest? Last week was Public Health Week. (I didn’t miss it, I was just busy celebrating.) Click here for a great video explanation of what public health is, and how we can become the healthiest nation in one generation.
Ellen Andrews
Ellen Andrews
Monday, April 13, 2009
2009 CT Health Disparities report
The Department of Public Health in cooperation with the CT Health Foundation recently released their 2009 Connecticut Health Disparities Report. The report defines health disparities as “avoidable differences in health that result from cumulative social disadvantage.” Connecticut is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse; from 2000-2007, there were significant increases in the populations of Asians, Latinos, and Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders.
Some key findings:
From 2000-2004, Black Connecticut residents had a death rate from all causes that was 1.2 times higher than White residents. This is the highest death rate of any CT residents.
The leading cause of death in CT from 2000-2004 was heart disease. Black residents had the highest death rate from heart disease, roughly 1.2 times higher than White residents.
Black residents also have higher rates of cancer, cerebrovascular disease or stroke, diabetes, death from diabetes, hospitalizations for diabetes, and lower-extremity amputations from diabetes.
Lower income adults are less likely to get recommended screening tests for certain cancers and are more likely to be obese.
Adult cigarette smokers are more likely to be lower income, younger, and have less education.
From 2001-2005, Black and Latino residents were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS at rates 7.4 and 6.6 times higher than Whites, respectively.
The highest rates of pregnant women with late or no prenatal care in the first trimester were among Latina and Black women.
Latino children had the highest percentage of “tooth decay experience” (49.3%); for Black children the percentage was 42.8% and for Asian children 42%.
Latino residents are about 5.4 times more likely to be uninsured than White residents.
No solutions are suggested to improve any of these serious health disparities. However, the report does recommend collecting more data. Some of the areas in which they would like to see more research are:
Subgroups within the Latino and Black populations
Access to quality health care and issues concerning language barriers for Latinos
Influences on health of poverty, environments, and discrimination for Black residents
Health experiences of American Indians, Alaska natives, Asians, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders
Jen Ramirez
Some key findings:
From 2000-2004, Black Connecticut residents had a death rate from all causes that was 1.2 times higher than White residents. This is the highest death rate of any CT residents.
The leading cause of death in CT from 2000-2004 was heart disease. Black residents had the highest death rate from heart disease, roughly 1.2 times higher than White residents.
Black residents also have higher rates of cancer, cerebrovascular disease or stroke, diabetes, death from diabetes, hospitalizations for diabetes, and lower-extremity amputations from diabetes.
Lower income adults are less likely to get recommended screening tests for certain cancers and are more likely to be obese.
Adult cigarette smokers are more likely to be lower income, younger, and have less education.
From 2001-2005, Black and Latino residents were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS at rates 7.4 and 6.6 times higher than Whites, respectively.
The highest rates of pregnant women with late or no prenatal care in the first trimester were among Latina and Black women.
Latino children had the highest percentage of “tooth decay experience” (49.3%); for Black children the percentage was 42.8% and for Asian children 42%.
Latino residents are about 5.4 times more likely to be uninsured than White residents.
No solutions are suggested to improve any of these serious health disparities. However, the report does recommend collecting more data. Some of the areas in which they would like to see more research are:
Subgroups within the Latino and Black populations
Access to quality health care and issues concerning language barriers for Latinos
Influences on health of poverty, environments, and discrimination for Black residents
Health experiences of American Indians, Alaska natives, Asians, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders
Jen Ramirez
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Forum for consumers and advocates: eHealth Privacy and Security
The CT Health Policy Project and AARP-CT are hosting a forum on electronic medical records and how to ensure patient’s privacy and security are protected. Electronic medical records and sharing them is an important part of improving the quality of care, reducing costs, and reforming our health care system. Planning is beginning at the state and federal levels. Come hear about the issue, share your concerns and become part of the discussion. The forum will be Monday, April 20th at 1:00pm in Room 310 of the Capitol. For more information contact us at 1-888-873-4585 or information@cthealthpolicy.org.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Forum on overweight and obesity
May 5th the Universal Health Care Foundation of CT and the CT Public Health Policy Institute will hold a forum to present a new analysis of the overweight and obesity problem in CT, including background, costs and consequences, and possible future interventions. The forum will be in May at the University of Hartford. For more information contact Kathy Kranz Lewis PhD, MPH, RNExecutive Director, Connecticut Public Health Policy Institute and Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, University of Hartford at kalewis@hartford.edu or (860) 768-5464.
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