State Health Policies Aimed at Promoting Excellent Systems: A Report on States’ Roles in Health Systems Performance
This report presents findings from the State Health Policies Aimed at Promoting Excellent Systems (SHAPES) project undertaken by the National Academy for State Health Policy with support from The Commonwealth Fund. The project built on the work of The Commonwealth Fund’s Commission on a High Performance Health System to explore the roles that States play in influencing key health system components such as insurance coverage, quality of care, and information and provider infrastructures.
After conducting surveys of multiple agencies in states across the country, as well as reviewing related literature, the authors found that states are pursuing system improvements across the full spectrum of their authority, including health care purchasing, regulation of providers, reporting of performance data, integration of public health with health care approaches, and improving the availability and affordability of health insurance. Despite this activity, this study finds room for states to do much more. The report also concludes that ongoing efforts to track, study and diffuse information on state activities could accelerate adoption of promising polices and practices.
A shorter summary report of themes published by The Commonwealth Fund – States’ Roles in Shaping High Performance Health Systems – can be found on the Fund’s Web site by clicking here.
| Shapes Report | 886.3 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. 
