How Far Can States Take Health Reform?
State-based health reform will achieve much more if it occurs in the context of a national strategy.
Expectations for state leadership in health reform have never been higher. States are thought to function as “laboratories of democracy,” but they do not fulfill this role effectively because insufficient attention is paid to experimentation and knowledge translation. Congressional proposals to encourage state action cover too narrow a span of state health policy, do not provide states with sufficient authority to tackle major health policy challenges, and supply insufficient funding. This paper concludes with a description of a more robust state-federal partnership that would be more likely to yield substantial health reform.
[Health Affairs 27, no. 3 (2008): 736–747; 10.1377/hlthaff.27.3.736]
| How Far Can States Take Health Reform.pdf | 132.8 KB |
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. 
