RAND report predicts reform will save CT state government 10% on health care spending

A new economic modeling analysis by RAND for the Council of State Governments estimates that 170,000 more CT residents will gain coverage by 2016 under health reform bringing our uninsured rate from 11% to 5%. The report also predicts that slightly more employers will offer coverage; employers will remain the largest source of coverage for most state residents. RAND estimates that over 300,000 state residents will gain coverage through the state insurance exchange and Medicaid roles will increase by 130,000. State employee coverage enrollment is not expected to change but spending is expected to be $110 million less than it would have been without reform between 2011 and 2020. Unlike the four other states in the report, CT’s state government spending on health care is expected to drop by 10% during those years compared to what it would have been without reform. Other states studied are expected to see an increase in spending of between 3% (Montana) and 10% (Texas and Illinois). The study also underscores why Connecticut must build on the health care insurance exchanges established under federal reform with SustiNet. The insurance exchange will only cover about 40,000 of the state’s small business workers, despite the fact that they are five times more likely to be uninsured. It will be critical to have a strong, affordable, publicly accountable option like SustiNet available to ensure that every state resident and every small business has a real opportunity to benefit from national health reform. Connecticut is likely to see further savings with the implementation of other reforms, such as patient centered medical homes and payment reform, outlined and facilitated by SustiNet and not included in the RAND report. Ellen Andrews

Medicaid Council update

At Friday’s Medicaid Care Management Oversight Council meeting the Dental Health Partnership reported on a remarkable secret shopper survey of the program. They found that callers were able to schedule appointments with 88% of offices called; the average wait time for an appointment was 11.2 days. Not bad. But rather than sit on their laurels, the Partnership came up with a corrective plan for the gaps and will re-measure next year. The number of participating dental providers is up significantly. The Partnership is now looking at how to increase demand and appropriate utilization (when do you ever hear that from a state agency)? In addition to the tried and true they are using innovative outreach techniques such as Facebook and leveraging medical providers. Concerns were raised that this progress achieved due to the dental lawsuit not be lost or reversed when the four year agreement timeframe is over. Lawsuits work. CT Voices reported on HUSKY utilization patterns during 2008 when the program abruptly switched from capitated financing to an ASO model for just over a year. For measures of children’s health, utilization was either the same or better in 2008 than the year before including annual well-child visits and developmental screenings. This mirrors Mercer’s assessment that medical costs didn’t change much during the ASO period; they even dropped slightly. DSS announced that CT was awarded a $1 million state demonstration planning grant by CMS to integrate care for dual eligibles, but did not have time to describe their plans. The RFP for the Medicaid ASO is out, but that also was not discussed. We will have more on the content of the RFP soon. Ellen Andrews

April Webquiz – health conditions and risk behaviors in CT

Test your knowledge of health conditions and risk behaviors in CT adults. Take the April CT Health Policy Webquiz. If you missed it, March’s quiz on children’s health in CT is still online.

US News’s hospital rankings out -- CT performance disappointing

CT hospitals did not fare particularly well in the new 2011 US News hospital rankings. None ranked in the Honor Roll of best hospitals nationally. Only two of 47 total CT hospitals ranked nationally in any specialty – Yale New Haven #8 in diabetes and endocrinology and #7 in pediatrics: diabetes and endocrinology, and CT Children’s Medical Center #27 in pediatrics: orthopedics. In the Hartford area, Hartford Hospital and CCMC lead the pack. Ellen Andrews

News roundup

Hospital mergers accelerate Hartford Courant Hospitals working to reduce readmissions CT Mirror HUSKY improving with PCCM CT Health I-Team CT hospitals’ contribution to the economy CT News Junkie CT physicians’ contribution to the economy Hartford Business Journal Brokers’ role in health reform CT Mirror

Video on impact of ACA in CT

A new video from Rep. Joe Courtney, CTHPP Board member, shows real patients and doctors describing the important benefits of the Affordable Care Act on CT residents, providers and small businesses right now.

CSG/ERC health policy webinar

Join Stan Dorn of the Urban Institute for a webinar about the Basic Health Program option for states under the national Affordable Care Act. The webinar will be Monday, April 4th at noon. To register, go to https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/191056697. The Basic Health Program option can allow states to continue to cover higher income parents who have been enrolled in Medicaid in comprehensive coverage that mirrors their current coverage at lower cost to both states and families than shifting them into the new health insurance exchanges. Stan’s recent paper on the Basic Health Program Option is at http://www.rwjf.org/coverage/product.jsp?id=72024. CT’s SustiNet plan includes exercising the Basic Health Program option for our state.