Republican-led health reform has arisen once again and could very well pass after July 4. In STAT, our health policy analyst Rachel Gershon describes why the Senate health care bill would make the individual health insurance market
less equitable and affordable, causing approximately 22 million people to lose coverage.
One little-discussed aspect of a new GOP health-care bill would significantly change the way state Medicaid programs are funded and could erode coverage nationwide.
Health policy analyst Rachel Gershon discusses Medicaid per capita caps in Governing.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides critical federal funding to the Massachusetts Medicaid program. On September 30, 2017 CHIP will expire without re-authorization from Congress. This would not only impact children's healthcare in Massachusetts, but have effects on broader health policy as well.
Researchers at UMass Medical School developed four community health worker models aligned with priorities of Connecticut’s State Innovation Model, a federally funded grant initiative to transform state health care systems. The models target high-need, high-cost patients – the populations for which CHW interventions are most likely to improve health outcomes and generate cost savings.
Health plans are ramping up efforts to connect with their members, with the growth of member outreach and engagement filling a significant gap in today’s health care system. Read this issue brief to learn best practices that boost outreach and improve outcomes.
The US Bureau of of Labor Statistics projects a 26 percent increase in demand for in home care aides by 2024 - and with rising demand comes new need for proper medical education. This study presents case studies of six state-based training models for new home care aides and discusses the recruitment process, curriculum design and delivery methods of all six methods.
The House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA) on May 4, providing the most comprehensive picture yet of what Republican health reform might look like. The Congressional Budget Office cost estimate was released May 24, noting that the bill would lead to 23 million uninsured by 2026 and cut $834 billion in federal support for Medicaid over 10 years. What should state policy makers know about potential effects of AHCA on their state?
Discover the innovative solutions implemented by the Care Transformation Collaborative of Rhode Island (CTC), an initiative managed by UMass Medical School, to address care coordination dilemmas.
Learn about interventions that employ community health workers to improve health outcomes for select patient groups while containing costs. UMass staff constructed models to focus on specific health issues, such as diabetes and asthma, in particular regions in Maine.
This presentation discusses different care delivery systems and alternative payment methods that can support community health worker (CHW) services, including approaches used by the Massachusetts Medicaid program, MassHealth.
In October of 2014, the Controlled Substance Act of 1970 was reformed - making the regulations around the prescription of hydrocodone combination products more strict. The research in this article was presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s in 2016, and investigates the effects of this change on claims for HCPs in the Medicaid population before and after October 2014.
Research shows community health workers (CHW) positively effect both the health of patients and the financial outcomes of healthcare providers. This policy brief offers findings on the potential effects of CHW's in Connecticut.
We should reform or align 42 CFR Part 2 with HIPAA to better serve patients with substance use disorder, UMass Medical School pharmacists Kimberly Lenz and Tyson Thompson write in an opinion piece for Managed Healthcare Executive.
A new project that strives to connect college students with disabilities to employers will be piloted in Boston in an effort to increase the employment opportunities for these students. National Organization on Disability President Carol Glazer and Work Without Limits Director Kathleen A. Petkauskos wrote about the project for The Huffington Post.
How the Trump administration can use waivers to alter Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), reforming health care at the state level. Health policy analyst Rachel Gershon delves into Section 1332 and 1115 waivers for STAT news.
An evaluation of the effectiveness of HCV genotype 1 treatment with Harvoni® (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) as measured by a sustained virological response (SVR) of 12 weeks in the MassHealth fee-for-service and Primary Care Clinician plan population.
An analysis of the Massachusetts Medicaid Pediatric Behavioral Health Medication Initiative Workgroup suggests a peer-to-peer outreach program is associated with increased awareness and implementation of evidence based medicine in a pediatric population treated with behavioral health medications.
The patient-centered medical home model of care should be applied to incarcerated populations, who have complex medical, behavioral, and substance abuse issues that demand integrated care. A blog on The Huffington Post about the positive impact PCMH can have on correctional health care from Julie White of the Health and Criminal Justice Program.
An analysis of a 2017-2018 budget proposal to rollback Connecticut Medicaid eligibility to 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level finds that 9,500 parents would lose their coverage. The change would likely increase the uninsurance rate by 4,300.
An analysis of medication adherence and birth outcomes among members receiving progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth in a state Medicaid program.
The ninth edition of Common Health for the Commonwealth updates data and trends on preventable health conditions and social factors affecting the health of Massachusetts residents. The report covers Social Determinants of Health, Health Risk Factors, and Preventable Health Conditions.
