Health Coverage and Access
FEATURED ARTICLE
Federal and State Collaboration for Medicare-Medicaid Alignment
/in Policy California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington Reports Care Coordination, CHIP, Chronic and Complex Populations, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Health Coverage and Access, Health System Costs, Long-Term Care, Medicaid Expansion, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Quality and Measurement, State Insurance Marketplaces /by Jenn JensonNASHP recently brought together a group of state and federal policy leaders to discuss the Medicare-Medicaid Financial Alignment Initiative, D-SNP health plans, and other programs and resources aimed at aligning health care payment and delivery to improve care for dual eligibles. See a report from the meeting and sign up for a webinar on state […]
Coverage of Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Services
/in Policy South Carolina Blogs, Webinars Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Children/Youth with Special Health Care Needs, CHIP, CHIP, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Community Health Workers, EPSDT, Health Coverage and Access, Health Equity, Healthy Child Development, Integrated Care for Children, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health /by Alexandra KingResearch has shown that a quality home visit by a nurse, social worker, early childhood educator or other trained personnel during pregnancy and early parenting can improve the lives of families and their children both at an early age and well into adolescence and early adulthood. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and […]
A Labor of Love: State Policies and Partnerships to Lower Infant Mortality
/in Policy Colorado, Indiana, South Carolina Annual Conference, Blogs CHIP, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Community Health Workers, Health Coverage and Access, Health Equity, Healthy Child Development, Infant Mortality, Integrated for Pregnant/Parenting Women, Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health /by Lesa Rair and Jill RosenthalState agencies across the country, from Medicaid to public health, to social services and corrections, are deeply engaged in multi-sector initiatives to reduce infant mortality. And for good reason — the United States ranks 25th among industrialized countries in infant mortality with a disproportionate number of being African Americans. Despite the gravity of the problem, […]
Incentivizing Healthy Behaviors and Personal Responsibility
/in Policy Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana Annual Conference, Blogs Accountable Health, Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Community Health Workers, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Essential Health Benefits, Health Coverage and Access, Health System Costs, Medicaid Expansion, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health, State Insurance Marketplaces /by Lesa RairTo help better prevent and control costly conditions such as chronic diseases, and to break the cycle of poor health, states are experimenting with mechanisms to incentivize healthy behaviors and personal responsibility for wellness. This past October, as part of the 29th Annual State Health Policy Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, leaders from Connecticut, Idaho, and […]
As Federal Leaders Debate, Open Enrollment is in Full Swing
/in Policy California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Vermont Blogs Essential Health Benefits, Health Coverage and Access, State Insurance Marketplaces /by NASHP WritersPost-election, federal leaders are debating changes to the ACA (Affordable Care Act) and whether it will continue in light of the goals put forth by the incoming Administration. Meanwhile, open enrollment for the health insurance marketplaces is in full swing, with some states reporting increased or record enrollment figures during these first weeks of enrollment […]
CHIP Coverage is Important for Pregnant Women Too
/in Policy Blogs CHIP, CHIP, Eligibility and Enrollment, Essential Health Benefits, Health Coverage and Access, Healthy Child Development, Infant Mortality, Integrated for Pregnant/Parenting Women, Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care /by NASHP WritersWhile the importance of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for children has been widely documented, it is also important to remember that states can and many do use CHIP to provide coverage to low-and moderate-income pregnant women. With federal-funding for CHIP due to run out by the end of this federal fiscal year (September […]
Challenges and Opportunities for Pediatric Medical Home Implementation and CYSHCN
/in Policy Care Coordination, Children/Youth with Special Health Care Needs, CHIP, CHIP, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Eligibility and Enrollment, Essential Health Benefits, Health Coverage and Access, Health Equity, Health System Costs, Healthy Child Development, Infant Mortality, Integrated Care for Children, Integrated for Pregnant/Parenting Women, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health, Primary Care/Patient-Centered/Health Home, Social Determinants of Health /by Felicia Heider and Barbara WirthNASHP in collaboration with the National Center for Medical Home Implementation developed a new fact sheet addressing challenges and opportunities to provision of care for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) enrolled in Medicaid managed care. The fact sheet identifies states that leverage Medicaid managed care to advance the pediatric medical home […]
What a Difference a Day Makes…
/in Policy Blogs CHIP, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Essential Health Benefits, Health Coverage and Access, Health Equity, Health System Costs, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Expansion, Medicaid Managed Care, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health, State Insurance Marketplaces /by NASHP WritersTomorrow it will all be over, this long, costly, bitter, and divisive election will be behind us and we will know who America has chosen as our President, who has been elected to Congress, and a host of other important electoral outcomes. While this election has too often highlighted the differences within our country, a […]
States with Medicaid Incentives for the Prevention of Chronic Diseases Model
/in Policy Maps Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Essential Health Benefits, Health Coverage and Access, Health System Costs, Long-Term Care, Medicaid Expansion, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health, State Insurance Marketplaces /by NASHP StaffSection 4108 of the ACA mandated the creation of the Medicaid Incentives for Prevention of Chronic Diseases (MIPCD) program for states to develop evidence-based prevention programs that provide incentives to Medicaid beneficiaries to participate in and complete. In 2011, 10 states were awarded grants to implement chronic disease prevention approaches for their Medicaid enrollees to […]
How Health System Transformation Efforts are Improving Access to Care for Children and Youth
/in Policy Massachusetts, New York, Ohio Blogs Care Coordination, Children/Youth with Special Health Care Needs, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Health Coverage and Access, Health System Costs, Healthy Child Development, Integrated Care for Children, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Expansion, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health, Value-Based Purchasing /by NASHP WritersStates are rapidly undertaking major reforms within their health care delivery systems. Though not often specifically targeting children and youth, these reforms offer opportunities to positively impact how this population accesses care. In a recent NASHP webinar several states described how their health system transformation efforts are doing so. Massachusetts State Innovation Model Grant: Massachusetts […]

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. 
























































































































































Rhode Island Looks to Auto-Enrollment to Ease Transitions from Medicaid to Marketplace
/in Health Coverage and Access, Policy Rhode Island Blogs, Featured News Home State Insurance Marketplaces /by Gia Gould and Maureen Hensley-Quinn