New on the Web 68 (May 2010)
From the AARP Public Policy Institute: “Brand Name Drug Prices Continue to Climb Despite Low General Inflation Rate”
From the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: “Employer Responsibility in Health Reform,” “Federal Government Will Pick Up Nearly All Costs of Health Reform’s Medicaid Expansion,” “New Citizenship Documentation Option for Medicaid and CHIP Is Up and Running”
From the Center for Studying Disability Policy and Mathematica: “Providing Health Benefits and Work-Related Services to Social Security Disability Insurance Beneficiaries”
From Health Affairs: “Near-Term Changes in Health Insurance: Newly Enacted Health Reform Legislation Mandates Dozens of Health Insurance Changes”
From the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured: “Optimizing Medicaid Enrollment: Perspectives on Strengthening Medicaid’s Reach under Health Care Reform”
From the Kaiser Family Foundation: “Explaining Health Reform: Key Changes in the Medicare Advantage Program,” “Explaining Health Care Reform: Questions about Medicaid’s Role,” “Health Care Reform and the CLASS Act”
From Mathematica: “How Does Insurance Coverage Improve Health Outcomes?”
From the White House: “Early Benefits from the Affordable Care Act of 2010 Reinsurance Program for Early Retirees”
From the AARP Public Policy Institute:
Brand Name Drug Prices Continue to Climb Despite Low General Inflation Rate finds that prices for brand name drugs rose considerably faster than prices for other consumer goods during the last year, while prices for generic drugs fell during the same time period. These higher prices translated to higher out-of-pocket costs for consumers, which is especially worrisome for seniors who are in danger of falling into the coverage gap known as the “doughnut hole.” (May 2010)
From the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:
Employer Responsibility in Health Reform discusses the requirement that large employers share the responsibility for assuring that their employees have health coverage. The brief explains why the requirement is necessary, which employers will be affected, and how it will be enforced. (April 2010)
Federal Government Will Pick Up Nearly All Costs of Health Reform’s Medicaid Expansion explains why the Medicaid expansion included in health reform is a good deal for states. In its first five years, the expansion will add only 1.25 percent to what states were already projected to spend on Medicaid over the same period. Plus, expanding health coverage will help states reduce spending on other services for the uninsured. (April 2010)
New Citizenship Documentation Option for Medicaid and CHIP Is Up and Running discusses the health reform requirement that states use a data matching system to verify citizenship for people seeking coverage in an exchange. The system is already an option for state CHIP and Medicaid programs. States report that this option simplifies enrollment, produces significant administrative savings, and may help states coordinate eligibility determinations for Medicaid, CHIP, and the new subsidies. (April 2010)
From the Center for Studying Disability Policy and Mathematica:
Providing Health Benefits and Work-Related Services to Social Security Disability Insurance Beneficiaries reports the results of a project designed to test whether earlier access to services for new Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries would lead to improved health, increased employment, and reduced reliance on benefits. Results show a decrease in reported unmet health needs and increased use of health care services. (April 2010)
From Health Affairs:
Near-Term Changes in Health Insurance: Newly Enacted Health Reform Legislation Mandates Dozens of Health Insurance Changes details the provisions that go into effect during the first two years. Some of the early changes include requiring new health plans to eliminate cost-sharing for preventive services, create internal and external appeals processes, and ban pre-authorization requirements for emergency services. (April 2010)
From the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured:
Optimizing Medicaid Enrollment: Perspectives on Strengthening Medicaid’s Reach under Health Care Reform reports on interviews with Medicaid program directors and other experts about how to make the most of the upcoming Medicaid expansion. All those interviewed saw the expansion as a strategic moment to recast Medicaid as an affordable program for working people and families and viewed strong enrollment as essential to fulfilling reform’s broader coverage goals. (April 2010)
From the Kaiser Family Foundation:
Explaining Health Reform: Key Changes in the Medicare Advantage Program looks at how health reform will affect seniors in Medicare Advantage plans. The new law eliminates overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans, rewards high-quality plans, and strengthens consumer protections for enrollees. (May 2010)
Explaining Health Care Reform: Questions about Medicaid’s Role explains how Medicaid works today and answers some key questions about Medicaid in health reform. Some questions include how the expansion will be financed, what benefits will be covered, and what will happen to CHIP. (April 2010)
Health Care Reform and the CLASS Act describes the major components of the CLASS program, including eligibility, benefits, financing, and its interaction with Medicaid. Going forward, it will be important to monitor the affordability of premiums, the adequacy of benefits, and participation rates, as these factors will determine the solvency of the program. (April 2010)
From Mathematica:
How Does Insurance Coverage Improve Health Outcomes? finds that health coverage improves outcomes by helping people obtain preventive care and other services, and by improving the continuity of care. Coverage can also improve social and economic well-being by averting developmental problems in children, increasing workforce productivity, decreasing the use of hospital services, and reducing costs for public programs. (April 2010)
From the White House:
Early Benefits from the Affordable Care Act of 2010 Reinsurance Program for Early Retirees explains why early retiree insurance is important, how the program will work, and answers some frequently asked questions, including about what types of plans are eligible and what types of services will qualify for reimbursement. (May 2010)
Return to New on the Web Contents
