New on the Web 87 (December 2011)
From the Alliance for Health Reform: “Inside Deficit Reduction: What Now?”
From Avalere Health: “New Analysis Reveals Number of Medicare Part D Drugs Covered by Prescription Drug Plans Varies Widely”
From the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation: “Massachusetts Health Reform: A Five-Year Progress Report”
From the Commonwealth Fund: “State Trends in Premiums and Deductibles, 2003-2010: The Need for Action to Address Rising Costs”
From Consumers Union: “Addressing Barriers to Online Applications: Can Public Enrollment Stations Increase Access to Health Coverage?”
From the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured: “Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Programs: Data Update,” “Faces of Medicaid”
From the Kaiser Family Foundation: “New CMS Estimates of State-by-State Health Expenditures,” “Medicare Advantage Plan Star Ratings and Bonus Payments in 2012,” “Resources on Deficit-Reduction Plans”
From the National Institute for Health Care Reform: “Promoting Healthy Competition in Health Insurance Exchanges: Options and Trade-Offs”
From the National Senior Citizens Law Center: “Improving the Qualified Medicare Benefit Program for Dual Eligibles”
From the Alliance for Health Reform:
Inside Deficit Reduction: What Now? discusses how Congress and the executive branch will react to the super committee’s failure to negotiate a deal, especially in the context of a presidential election campaign, what impact the sequester will have on the health care sector, how implementation of the Affordable Care Act will be affected, and whether Congress is likely to devise alternatives to the automatic spending cuts. (December 2011)
From Avalere Health:
New Analysis Reveals Number of Medicare Part D Drugs Covered by Prescription Drug Plans Varies Widely shows that patients must select plans that cover their specific medication needs, rather than seeking only the lowest premiums. It also notes that patients with serious illnesses could see higher prescription costs in 2012. (November 2011)
From the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation:
Massachusetts Health Reform: A Five-Year Progress Report examines major components of the law, such as expanding eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP, requiring all adults to obtain health insurance, and creating a health insurance exchange. It looks at how these provisions are working, the challenge of rising health care costs, and how health reform has affected coverage and access to care. (November 2011)
From the Commonwealth Fund:
State Trends in Premiums and Deductibles, 2003-2010: The Need for Action to Address Rising Costs notes that total premiums for family coverage increased by 50 percent, and the employee share of premiums increased by 63 percent. It also explores the potential for the Affordable Care Act to reduce this growth while improving financial protections. (November 2011)
From Consumers Union:
Addressing Barriers to Online Applications: Can Public Enrollment Stations Increase Access to Health Coverage? discusses the use of computers or kiosk stations in public places to make online applications more accessible. It identifies challenges and opportunities that policy makers need to understand as they design effective online application systems. (November 2011)
From the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured:
Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Programs: Data Update summarizes significant trends for three main home and community-based services (HCBS) programs that are alternatives to institutional long-term care. (December 2011)
Faces of Medicaid profiles 16 individuals and families who rely on Medicaid and describes the diverse ways in which the program has helped them. Videos and recordings of the people telling their own stories are also available. (November 2011)
From the Kaiser Family Foundation:
New CMS Estimates of State-by-State Health Expenditures examines trends in spending and their implications for several efforts to constrain health care costs, including provisions of the Affordable Care Act and various state initiatives. A video and podcast are available. (December 2011)
Medicare Advantage Plan Star Ratings and Bonus Payments in 2012 discusses the scaled bonus payments that will be added to the existing five-star rating system. To encourage improvements in health care quality, plans will be awarded a bonus if they receive a rating of three stars or higher. (November 2011)
Resources on Deficit-Reduction Plans provides a collection of pieces devoted to ongoing deficit reduction efforts and how they may affect Medicare, Medicaid, and other health care programs. (November 2011)
From the National Institute for Health Care Reform:
Promoting Healthy Competition in Health Insurance Exchanges: Options and Trade-Offs examines decisions that state governments will face regarding standardization of premiums and benefits in their exchanges. States must find the right balance between simplicity and flexibility to promote competition among insurers, maximize the quality of health care, and minimize costs. (November 2011)
From the National Senior Citizens Law Center:
Improving the Qualified Medicare Benefit Program for Dual Eligibles explains the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program and focuses on four problem areas that prevent people from fully using their Medicare benefits. It recommends methods for improvement and proposes a comprehensive redesign of the QMB program. (November 2011)
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