Health Coverage and Access
FEATURED ARTICLE
Toolkit: State Strategies to Enroll Justice-Involved Individuals in Health Coverage
/in Policy Toolkits Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Eligibility and Enrollment, Essential Health Benefits, Health Coverage and Access, Health System Costs, Medicaid Expansion, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Quality and Measurement /by Anita Cardwell, Chiara Corso and Sarabeth ZemelUnder the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many individuals involved in the criminal justice system are now eligible for Medicaid, including many young, low-income males who did not previously qualify.
The Healthier Washington Initiative Promotes Accountable Communities of Health Statewide
/in Policy Washington Blogs Accountable Health, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Essential Health Benefits, Health Coverage and Access, Health Equity, Health System Costs, Medicaid Expansion, Medicaid Managed Care, Population Health, Primary Care/Patient-Centered/Health Home, Quality and Measurement, Social Determinants of Health /by Taylor KniffinAt a recent NASHP preconference, Improving Health, Lowering Costs: Translating Population Health into Effective State Policy, we heard from Washington State about the innovative work currently underway as part of its Healthier Washington initiative. This panel featured MaryAnne Lindeblad from the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) and two local perspectives: Patty Hayes, Director of Public […]
Improving Behavioral Health Access & Integration Using Telehealth & Teleconsultation: A Health Care System for the 21st Century
/in Policy Reports Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Health Coverage and Access, Health IT/Data, Health System Costs, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Quality and Measurement, Safety Net Providers and Rural Health, Workforce Capacity /by Lesa RairIndividuals with medical and behavioral health comorbidities often receive fragmented care, resulting in higher costs and poorer outcomes. States, the federal government, and providers have all made significant investments to build and expand evidence-based integration models, such as the collaborative care model, to reduce fragmentation and improve care. However, workforce shortages and limited resources may hinder […]
And They’re Off: New State-based Marketplace Consumer Services and Supports Launch for OE3
/in Policy California, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont Blogs Eligibility and Enrollment, Health Coverage and Access, Medicaid Expansion, State Insurance Marketplaces /by Lesa RairOn November 1, health insurance marketplaces officially opened to millions of individuals for 2016 enrollment. Early reports indicate a smooth launch of the open enrollment season, partially due to several new tools to ease enrollment and renewal processes for marketplace consumers. Smarter Plan Comparison Tools Recent articles have featured the many new shopping tools available […]
Keeping a Focus on Children During Open Enrollment
/in Policy Ohio, Rhode Island, Washington Blogs CHIP, CHIP, Eligibility and Enrollment, Health Coverage and Access, Healthy Child Development, Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Expansion, Medicaid Managed Care, State Insurance Marketplaces /by Lesa RairThe Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) third annual open enrollment period kicked off November 1st and continues through January 31, 2016. During this time, individuals can enroll or renew coverage in qualified health plans through state and federal exchanges. The ACA’s open enrollment period is a great time to focus on reaching and enrolling children as […]
Top 5 Themes We Saw Emerge From #NASHPCONF15
/in Policy Blogs Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, CHIP, Chronic and Complex Populations, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Eligibility and Enrollment, Health Coverage and Access, Health IT/Data, Health System Costs, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, State Insurance Marketplaces /by NASHPState health policy leaders from all 50 states and the District of Columbia converged in Dallas for our largest-ever annual conference. Packed sessions and hallway conversations had the place abuzz with ideas and challenges as states move ahead with system-changing reforms. Without the brainpower of our members and attendees identifying key issues and best practices […]
Health Centers’ Role in Affordable Care Act Outreach and Enrollment: Experience from Kentucky and Montana
/in Policy Kentucky, Montana Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Health Coverage and Access, Health System Costs, Medicaid Expansion, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Primary Care/Patient-Centered/Health Home, Safety Net Providers and Rural Health, State Insurance Marketplaces /by NASHP, Najeia Mention and Alice WeissThe Affordable Care Act created new opportunities for health centers and primary care associations (PCA) to play a leading role in supporting outreach and enrollment into new and expanded health coverage programs. Health centers and PCAs received new funding, sometimes from multiple state and federal entities, new training and tools, and a new mandate to find and […]
State Strategies for Defining Medical Necessity for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
/in Policy Reports Children/Youth with Special Health Care Needs, CHIP, CHIP, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Eligibility and Enrollment, EPSDT, Health Coverage and Access, Healthy Child Development, Integrated Care for Children, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health /by NASHP and Barbara WirthMedicaid programs nationwide are mandated to use the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit to improve the health of low-income children with special physical, emotional, and developmental health care needs. This benefit supports children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) by ensuring they receive individualized health care when they need it—provided those services are deemed medically […]
State Marketplaces’ Proof Is in their Performance at Congressional Oversight Hearing
/in Policy California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon Blogs Eligibility and Enrollment, Health Coverage and Access, Medicaid Expansion, State Insurance Marketplaces /by NASHP and Alice WeissLast week, six state-based marketplace directors (CA, CT, HI, MA, MN, and OR) testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, where they faced tough questions on their marketplace performance, impact and future prospects. The hearing was notable for its intensive focus on operations, signaling a new emphasis […]
A Closer Look at the Oversight of State-based Marketplaces
/in Policy California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Oregon Reports Eligibility and Enrollment, Health Coverage and Access, Medicaid Expansion, State Insurance Marketplaces /by NASHPThe 17 states, and the District of Columbia, electing to operate a State-based Marketplace (SBM) are subject to comprehensive oversight from a varied set of federal and state agencies, committees, and regulators. Ongoing reporting, site visits, and auditing spans the full range of SBM functions, including eligibility and enrollment, data security, consumer privacy, financial transactions, […]
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