Author Archive for: catherine-hess
About Catherine Hess
Catherine Hess rejoined the NASHP staff as a part time Policy Fellow in May, 2016 to work on the State Innovation Model (SIM) evaluation. She previously was part of the NASHP team from 2005 to 2015, starting as a Senior Program Director and eventually serving as the Managing Director for Coverage and Access. She worked with teams of staff to develop and implement initiatives focused on children’s coverage, eligibility and enrollment, access to care and the safety net, dental care, maternal and child health, population health, and health care reform among other areas.
Before joining NASHP, Ms. Hess served for 14 years as the first Executive Director for the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP), which represents state public health officials. Prior to developing the AMCHP national organization, Ms. Hess served as Policy Director for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Division of Family Health Services, where among other accomplishments, she was key in creating Healthy Start, a cutting edge state funded maternity care insurance program. She is the recipient of numerous awards, and has participated in many national committees and task forces. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester, and a master’s in social work from Boston University.
Entries by Catherine Hess
NASHP Webinar: Strategies to Support Expanded Roles for Non-Clinicians on Primary Care Teams: Two State Case Studies
August 12, 2014 in Policy Webinars /by NASHP, Catherine Hess and Katharine WitgertTuesday, August 12, 2014: There is strong evidence that team-based primary care has significant benefits for patients and providers. Some care teams now include non-clinicians, such as medical assistants, health coaches, care coordinators, or community health workers. This requires both a financing source to support non-clincians’ services and training to integrate them with clinical care teams. This webinar provides context on the evidence supporting expanded roles for non-clinicians as members of care teams, and highlights case studies from two states, Maine and South Carolina, that have successfully leveraged Medicaid financing for non-clinician services and harnessed training opportunities to support expanded roles within redesigned primary care teams.
Benefits and Cost Sharing in Separate CHIP Programs
May 6, 2014 in Policy Reports Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health /by Anita Cardwell, Joanne Jee and Catherine HessThe Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and how it fits into the new coverage landscape established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are receiving increased attention. This report, developed jointly with the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families and with support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, examines benefits and cost-sharing in 42 […]
Improving Integration of Dental Health Benefits in Health Insurance Marketplaces
April 24, 2014 in Policy Reports Health Coverage and Access /by NASHP, Keerti Kanchinadam and Catherine HessThe Affordable Care Act includes pediatric dental services as one of ten essential health benefits that state and federal health insurance marketplaces must offer. However, dental is treated differently from other essential health benefits, creating unique implementation challenges. With support from the DentaQuest Foundation, NASHP held an expert meeting with state and federal marketplace officials, […]
Health Care Reform and Children: Planning and Design Considerations for Policymakers
June 5, 2013 in Policy Reports Health Coverage and Access, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health /by Joanne Jee, Catherine Hess and Jennifer DolatshahiSeveral of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) key provisions are aimed specifically at children, but much of the law focuses on covering the larger uninsured population of adults without dependent children. As states focus on implementing these ACA coverage programs and other systemic changes by January 1, 2014, it will be important that children’s coverage […]
How CHIP Can Help Meet Child Specific Requirements and Needs in the Exchange
May 21, 2013 in Policy Webinars Health Coverage and Access, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health /by NASHP and Catherine HessDowload presentation here (PDF) Health insurance exchanges or marketplaces need to be prepared to serve children’s needs as well as adults. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), an already established and tested program, offers features that can help states meet ACA exchange requirements while establishing good coverage for children. With support from the David and Lucile […]
Issues and Policy Options in Sustaining a Safety Net Infrastructure to Meet the Health Care Needs of Vulnerable Populations
October 10, 2012 in Policy Reports Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform /by Catherine HessAs a result of large-scale changes in insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), financing streams for safety net providers will shift. The law provides significant resources for further development of some safety net providers while reducing funding streams for others. The vulnerable populations served by the safety net—poor and underserved communities—may not fundamentally […]
Potential Roles for Safety Net Providers in Supporting Continuity Across Medicaid and Health Insurance Exchanges
September 7, 2012 in Policy Webinars /by Catherine Hess and Jennifer DolatshahiOne challenge states face in implementing the Affordable Care Act is smoothing transitions for individuals who may churn between Medicaid and health insurance exchanges. Many people who will become eligible for coverage already interact with safety net providers. This report explores potential roles safety net providers could play in bridging gaps in coverage and care […]
Including Safety-Net Providers in Integrated Delivery Systems: Issues and Options for Policymakers
August 13, 2012 in Policy Reports Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform /by Catherine Hess and Katharine WitgertHealth care reform legislation has spurred efforts to develop integrated health care delivery systems that seek to coordinate the continuum of health services. These systems may be of particular benefit to patients who face barriers to accessing care or have multiple health conditions. But it remains to be seen how safety-net providers, including community health […]
Keeping Children’s Coverage Strong in the Context of the Affordable Care Act: Perspectives from State Children’s Health Insurance Leaders
May 14, 2012 in Policy Reports Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health /by NASHP and Catherine HessWith passage of the Affordable Care Act, the stakes for children’s coverage perhaps have never been higher. Children potentially have much to gain in coverage for themselves and for their parents. However, they also have much to lose in shifting attention, and in unintended consequences of reforms focused on adults. To examine the options for […]
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For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
