Webinar: National Health Reform and What it Means for CT

The video and slides from today’s webinar with Rep. Joe Courtney, Congressman from CT’s 2nd district, are posted at http://www.cthealthpolicy.org/webinars.

New Webinar: Congressman Joe Courtney on national health reform

Join CT Congressman Joe Courtney from CT’s 2nd district, and CT Health Policy Project Board Member, describe national health reform, how we got here, and what it means for CT in a webinar next Wednesday March 31st at 3:15pm. To register, go to https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/169103624

Collaboration works – housing conference

This morning was the third in a series of conferences on housing in CT, but with a twist. The organizers emphasized the need to collaborate across issue areas – to include people who care about transportation, education, workforce, the economy, government, the environment, and health care. The conference was a collaborative effort of non-profits with government. They brought in speakers to talk about model programs in other states like Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas (yes, Texas). They brought useful ideas that could be adopted here to improve on the housing successes CT has already achieved through collaboration. There was a lot of very productive talk about breaking down silos around housing. I left wishing we could do the same for health care in CT.
Ellen Andrews

Why is getting healthy so hard? Find out April 21st

The Donaghue Foundation’s annual meeting will focus on behavioral and cultural perspectives on taking responsibility for our health. The meeting will be Wednesday, April 21st from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Hartford Marriott Farmington. Registration is free. For more information click here.

Federal health reform – what it means to the real world, how to prepare now

The Wall Street Journal has a nice article outlining what people in the real world can do to prepare for national health reform. The NY Times has a great site describing what reform will mean for you, depending on your status now.

CT Medicaid wins in health reform reconciliation bill

The reconciliation bill scheduled to be considered this weekend by Congress benefits CT’s Medicaid program, and the state bottom line, in significant ways.

The bill would expand Medicaid coverage to all state residents (except undocumented immigrants) up to 133% of the federal poverty level (FPL) -- $14,620.50 for individuals and $19,669.50 for a family of two – in 2014. CT would receive full funding for all newly eligible residents in 2014, tapering down to 90% after 2019. In 2007/2008 CT had 110,200 uninsured residents living below 133% FPL. In January of this year there were 43,549 members of our state-funded SAGA program; those members would become eligible for Medicaid and, because we do not have a waiver to cover them, they should be eligible for federal funding saving the state $133 million. Because CT does not have a Medicaid SAGA waiver, coverage of SAGA members would qualify for federal funding under the reform bill (sometimes it pays to procrastinate). It is also likely that many of the 6,077 Charter Oak residents in the lowest income band (0 to 150% FPL) as of March 1st will become eligible for Medicaid and full federal funding, saving the state what we spend on their subsidies.

Medicaid primary care providers will benefit under the reconciliation bill which increases their rates to Medicare levels in 2013. In 2008, CT primary care Medicaid rates averaged 0.78 of Medicare levels, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The incremental cost will be paid fully by the federal government from 2013 through 2014. In 2008, CT’s rates were better than most other states (weighted average of 1.44 compared to other state’s rates). CT would receive more if our provider rates were closer to the national average, but we will be getting more than we did in the past.

In January, the CT Health Policy Project outlined a list of questions CT’s Medicaid program needs to answer in implementing national health reform.
Ellen Andrews

CT nursing school graduate survey results

The CT League for Nursing fielded a survey of 2010 nursing school graduates for the SustiNet Health Care Workforce Task Force; the CT Health Policy Project analyzed the data. The survey found that virtually all the graduates plan to stay in CT, and most intend to work full time. Two out of three are graduating with debt, most totaling between $10,000 and $30,000. Most expect to work in a hospital, but a large number of LPN graduates are seeking positions in nursing homes. Factors affecting their decision include distance, location, work environment, and finances, in that order.
Ellen Andrews