More good Medicaid news

At today’s Medicaid Council meeting we heard about the impressive new resources and supports for members and providers in the Medicaid and dental programs. New members receive a user-friendly welcome packet and a health needs assessment to connect them to the resources they need. The new HUSKY website is mobile-ready and impressive with comprehensive information both for members and providers, including a provider and person-centered medical home search function, coverage, health education information, and links to other services such as housing, food and income support. The lack of consistent, clear policy information used to be a significant barrier to provider participation in our physician survey. 

CT 2015 insurance exchange enrollment – the numbers are in

Two thirds of CT residents who secured coverage through AccessHealthCT’s portal this year were eligible for Medicaid, according to the latest federal enrollment report. Another 29% were eligible for financial assistance to buy coverage from a private insurer, and just under 6% bought coverage without subsidies. Of the 109,839 people who selected health plans on the exchange this year, 38% were new enrollees and 41% were automatically enrolled. Concerns about the relative age of exchange members remain from last year with the highest proportion of members ages 55 to 64 years. Experts are concerned that a lack of younger, healthier members may increase the costs of coverage for everyone in the exchange, making it less affordable, and even less attractive to healthy consumers -- creating a counterproductive cycle of higher and higher premiums.

Students try to testify

A CT Mirror Op-Ed describes the challenges facing CSCU students who tried to testify at the Appropriations Committee hearing on the Governor’s budget. Insiders forget how unfriendly the process is, even for organized students supported by their professors. Hopefully they don’t give up.

SIM bill hearing in Public Health next Wednesday

HB- 6938, AAC the Delivery of Quality Health Care and Modernization of Health Care Facilities, will have a public hearing next Wednesday March 11^th at 10:30 at the LOB in Room 1D. SIM is planning to radically transform health care for every state resident, including moving 200,000 Medicaid members back into a financial risk model by Jan. 1^st – and it’s never had a legislative hearing. Among other things, the bill directs the Office of Health Care Advocate to conduct a study concerning the feasibility of using currently available SIM federal funds to establish a model program for the delivery of value-based high-quality health care in Waterbury,  a community facing serious health concerns and challenges.  To submit testimony electronically, send it to PHCtestimony@cga.ct.gov.

March web quiz on CT employer coverage

Test your knowledge of employer coverage trends in CT. Take the March CT Health Policy Webquiz.

Guroo.com – new health care price shopping tool

A cool new tool, Guroo -- from the Health Care Cost Institute, allows price comparisons for a wide array of treatment bundles across the US. For example, average prices for a colonoscopy for preventive screening across the US, in CT and New Haven are $2,288, $2,851 and $2,730 respectively. However that New Haven consumer can save, on average, $100 by travelling to Bridgeport and $627 if they are willing to travel to Springfield for the procedure. The site also breaks out the bundle into the physician and facility portions of the price, with the average cost and range of prices. The site also explains what the procedure entails, how to prepare (important for a colonoscopy), and questions to ask your provider. A great consumer tool but also an important advance for price transparency, and hopefully cost control.

CT health reform progress still stalled

CT’s progress toward health reform remains stalled yet again this month. The March meter moved down from last month slightly to 29.0%. Medicaid quality measures and public input were highlights. But placing Medicaid’s successes and reform planning in jeopardy, and SIM ethics challenges dragged progress down. The CT health reform progress meter is part of the CT Health Reform Dashboard.