Weekly Digest

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Weekly Digest POLICY BEAT Weekly Digest October 17th – October 21st, 2011 This Week in Health Policy… • ACO Final Rules • Medicaid Cuts ‐ Wisconsin • EHR Medicaid Incentives • ACA Implementation –Local Level Office of Health Policy and Government Relations Care Coordination: CMS Announces ACO Final Rules This week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the final rules for setting up Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The rules define two incentive programs ‐ the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and the Advanced Payment Model ‐ both of which are intended to facilitate robust physician participation in ACOs. More details available here. CMS will conduct a learning session about ACOs from November 17‐18 in Baltimore. You may sign up here. Advanced Payment Model Highlights: •Upfront fixed payment •Upfront payment based on the number of Medicare patients served •Monthly payments based on the number of Medicare patients •Designed for physician‐owned and rural ACOs Protecting Medicaid: Wisconsin Proposes $500M Cuts This week, Wisconsin health officials heard the displeasure of health care advocates over Governor Scott Walker’s proposal to reduce the state’s Medicaid expenses by $500 million by 2013. BadgerCare , as the program is known, proposes to shift more than 200,000 families from the plan to “benchmark” plans that offer fewer benefits. This move would require a federal waiver. BadgerCare serves over a million people, a population that amounts to about one in five Wisconsin residents. More details are available here. Image credit: Wisconsin Health Insurance Network EHR Incentives: How Medicaid Programs Are Preparing States are building the infrastructure necessary to help their Medicaid providers adopt health IT systems, in order to meet meaningful use requirements, and qualify for CMS EHR incentives. Alabama’s Provider Electronic Solutions, for example, is available to all Alabama Medicaid providers at no cost. Details of the program are available here. Photo credit: Alabama Medicaid Agency Health System Reform: ACA Implementation @ the County Level The Healthy Howard Health Plan was developed by Howard County, Maryland, to serve as the first line of defense for health promotion and disease prevention among the county’s uninsured. The Affordable Care Act makes such a plan increasingly more viable at the local level. More details are available here. Key Points: Policy Beat archive: Click here •Total county population 287K, 20K uninsured Image credit: Healthy Howard Health Plan •‘Primary care homeʹ model •Up to six doctor visits per year, standard •Consult care coordinator at each doctor visit •Funded by the county and community partnerships What You Can Do •Please call your Members of Congress, and urge them to preserve funding for training minority doctors. Contact info here. •Is Policy Beat helpful? Please send us feedback at [email protected] •New email address? Let us know at [email protected] For the latest health policy updates, visit our RSS News Feed. Resources • “New Affordable Care Act Tools Offer Incentives for Providers to Work Together When Caring for People With Medicare.” HealthCare.Gov. October 20, 2011. Web. http://www.healthcare.gov/news/ factsheets/2011/10/accountable‐care10202011a.html • Bauer, Scott. “Public Speaks Out Against Wisconsin Medicaid Cuts.” Associated Press. October 19, 2011. Web. http://www.twincities.com/health/ci_19148862?source=rss • “EHR Incentive Programs –Medicaid State Information.” Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. October 2, 2011. Web. http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePr ograms/40_MedicaidStateInfo.asp • “Provider Electronic Solutions Software.” Alabama Medicaid Agency. October 2011. Web. http://medicaid.alabama.go v/CONTENT/6.0_Providers/6. 10_Provider_Electronic_Sol utions.aspx • “About Us –Healthy Howard Health Plan.” Healthy Howard Health Plan. October 2011. Web. http://www.healthyhowardplan.org/about .
Recommended publications
  • Planning for Population Health Improvement ……………..…………………...5
    Maryland Population Health Improvement Plan: Planning for Population Health Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Population Health Improvement Improvement 12.31.2016 December 31st, 2016 1 Table of Contents Executive Summary ………………………………………………………………….…………….. 3 Introduction to Planning for Population Health Improvement ……………..…………………...5 Maryland Population Health System Transformation………………………………..………......7 The Maryland All-Payer Model Background Planning for Population Health Improvement within the Maryland Context Existing Population Health Infrastructure Importance of Population Health Improvement Planning Data Broadening the Concept of Prevention ……………………………………………………………15 Population Health Management and Population Health Improvement 3 Buckets of Prevention Stakeholder Engagement …………………………………………………………………………..19 Planning for Population Health Improvement: Prioritization Framework and Process……… 21 Planning for Population Health Improvement: Net Savings and Return on Investment (ROI) Concepts ………………………………………………………………………………………......... 24 Future Design Work for Planning for Population Health Improvement..................................... 26 Planning for Sustaining Population Health Improvement Next Steps Vision for Implementation ………………………………………………………………………… 32 Appendices………………………………………………………………………………………… 33 Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 73 2 Glossary of Terms ACO: Accountable Care Organizations CDFI Fund: Community Development Financial Institutions Fund CHNA: Community Health Needs Assessment
    [Show full text]
  • Howard County General Hospital Fiscal Year 2017 Community Benefits Report Narrative
    Howard County General Hospital Fiscal Year 2017 Community Benefits Report Narrative Johns Hopkins Health System Fiscal Year 2017 Community Benefit Report Narrative Howard County General Hospital Table of Contents CONTENTS I. General Hospital Demographics and Characteristics ........................................ 2 II. Community Health Needs Assessment ............................................................ 9 III. Community Benefit Administration .............................................................. 10 IV. Community Benefit External Collaboration ................................................... 15 V. Hospital Community Benefit Programs and Initiatives ................................... 18 VI. Physicians ................................................................................................... 31 VII. Appendices ................................................................................................. 33 a. Appendix I: Financial Assistance Policy Description ................................ 33 b. Appendix II: Description of How Hospital’s Financial Assistance Policy has changed since ACA became effective on January 1, 2014 ......................... 34 c. Appendix III: Financial Assistance Policy ............................................... 35 d. Appendix IV: Patient Information Sheet .................................................. 58 e. Appendix V: Mission, Vision, and Values Statement ................................ 59 f. Appendix VI: Community Benefit Work Group And Community Benefit Task Force
    [Show full text]
  • 2012-2014 Action Plan, Setting Goals and Strategies for the Top Three Priority Areas – Access to Care, Behavioral Health, and Healthy Weight
    Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition: 2012‐2014 Wrap-Up Report Introduction The Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition (LHIC) was formed in 2011 as part of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s State Health Improvement Process (SHIP). The coalition’s mission is to identify and reduce health disparities and achieve health equity among Howard County residents. Using local health data and input from stakeholders from throughout the County, the coalition developed the 2012-2014 Action Plan, setting goals and strategies for the top three priority areas – Access to Care, Behavioral Health, and Healthy Weight. The coalition then formed work groups to implement each area of the plan. This report details the progress made toward the 2012-2014 Action Plan. The report is divided based on the three work groups that were created to implement the Action Plan. Each work group focused on a specific priority that was targeted for improvement. The report also provides a highlight of the current LHIC’s 2015-2017 Action Plan. Priority Area: Access to Care The focus of the Access to Care Workgroup is to address Priority #1 from the 2012-2014 Local Health Improvement Action Plan: Increase access to health care. Summary of Activities Prenatal Care Program As a result of the work group’s recommendation, Healthy Howard, Inc., created a Prenatal Care Program which provided services, including transportation for prenatal care, for undocumented Latina women. The program ran from December 2012 to December 2014 and served a total of 108 Latina women. Kaiser Bridge Plan The Kaiser Bridge Plan partnership was designed to help those who cannot afford health care coverage due to an unexpected change in job status or income and for individuals who would not be eligible for any other public or private health care program.
    [Show full text]
  • Addressing Barriers to Online Applications: Can Public Enrollment Stations Increase Access to Health Coverage?*
    Addressing Barriers to Online Applications: Can Public Enrollment Stations Increase Access to Health Coverage?* November 2011 Introduction and Summary As a result of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) more than 30 million Americans are expected to enroll in health care coverage by 2019.1 In California, alone, it is expected that most of the 6.4 million non-elderly adults and children currently uninsured will be eligible to enroll in new coverage.2 In order to ensure that people eligible for coverage obtain it, the ACA supports a streamlined eligibility and enrollment system that will be accessible and easy for consumers to use. To that end, the ACA requires that people be able to enroll in coverage a variety of ways: in person, on the telephone, by mail or online.3 While the ACA proposes to provide an easy way for individuals to access online applications from the privacy of home, many individuals still are not able to take advantage of the online option. Some individuals do not have the “hardware” that would enable them to apply from home, e.g. computers, printers or scanners; others are challenged by language barriers, low English proficiency, disability or additional reasons that prevent them from comfortably being able to complete an online application without some level of assistance. In addition to the above-named barriers, a number of key consumer issues arise and need to be addressed in order to ensure that the more streamlined, high-technology application process is accessible to all who may be eligible for health coverage programs.
    [Show full text]
  • 22 Report Cover Template
    Howard County General Hospital Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Strategy June 30, 2016 Howard County General Hospital TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS PAGE I. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 II. Service Area and Population a. Overview ....................................................................................................................... 2 b. The Community We Serve ............................................................................................ 3 III. Approach and Methodology a. Primary Data ................................................................................................................. 7 b. Secondary Data ............................................................................................................. 8 c. Local Health Improvement Coalition ............................................................................ 9 d. Health Experts ............................................................................................................... 9 IV. Key Community Priorities a. Access to Affordable Care ........................................................................................... 11 b. Behavioral Health ........................................................................................................ 11 c. Healthy Aging .............................................................................................................. 12 d. Healthy
    [Show full text]
  • Hurkrn) Subiect JUHNJ Page 1Ol20 Lohtas Hotxtns ASSISTANCE HEAL'h E |L FINANCIAL 'YST Supgrs€Dgs 01-15-10 Equx
    Policy Number FINO34H The Johns Hopkim Health System Policy & Procedure A Etrective DaE 09-15-10 HUrKrN) Subiect JUHNJ Page 1ol20 loHtaS HotxtNs ASSISTANCE HEAL'H E |l FINANCIAL 'YST Supgrs€dgs 01-15-10 eQux Thir pollcy .pplies to The Johns Hopkins Health System Conoration (JHHS) following entities: Howard Gounty Gene.al Ho6pital (HcGH) and suburban Hospital (SHr. Puroose JHHS is committed to providing financial assistance to persons who have health care needs and are uninsured, underinsured, ineligible for a government program, or otheruise unable to pay, for medically necessary care based on their individual financial situation. It is the policy ofthe Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions to provide Financial Assistanc€ based on indigence or excessive Medical Debt for patients who meet specified financial criteria and request such assistance. The purpose of the following policy statement is to describe how applications for Financial Assistance can be made, the criteria for eligibility, and the steps for processing each application. JHHS hospiials will publish the availability of Financial Assistance on e yearly basis in their local newspape6, and will post notices of availability at patient registration sites, Admissions/Business Otfice the Billing Office, and at the emergency department within each facility.. Notice of availability will also be sent to patients on patient bills. A Patient Billing and Financial Assistance Information Sheet will be provided to inpatients before discharge and will be available to all patients upon request. Financial Assistance may be extended when a review of a patients individual financial circumstances has been conducted and documented. This should include a review ofthe patient's existing medical expenses and obligations (including any accounts placed in bad debt except those accounts on which a lawsuit has been filed and a judgment obtaaned) and any projected medical expenses.
    [Show full text]
  • 20140644E.Pdf
    STATE OF MARYLAND OFFICE OF THE LT. GOVERNOR ANTHONY G. BROWN LT. GOVERNOR STATE HOUSE 100 STATE CIRCLE ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND 21401-1925 (410) 974-2804 (TOLL FREE) 1-800-811-8336 TTY USERS CALL VIA MD RELAY January 1, 2014 The Honorable Martin O’Malley Governor of Maryland State House 100 State Circle Annapolis, MD 21401-1925 The Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. President of the Senate State House 100 State Circle, H-107 Annapolis, MD 21401-1991 The Honorable Michael E. Busch Speaker of the House of Delegates State House 100 State Circle, H-101 Annapolis, MD 21401-1991 Dear Governor O’Malley, President Miller, and Speaker Busch: Pursuant to Executive Order 01.01.2011.09, we are pleased to submit to you a report detailing the progress of the Maryland Health Quality and Cost Council in 2013. The Council is tasked with providing the leadership, innovation, and coordination of multiple stakeholders within our health system—payers, institutional providers, physicians, government, patients, and citizens—in an effort to improve the health of Maryland’s citizens, maximize the quality of health care services, and contain health care costs. During the past year, the Council’s workgroups have made significant progress in implementing key strategies to improve health in Maryland. In addition, each workgroup has been charged with incorporating strategies to address health disparities into every initiative. This report summarizes the Council’s activities in 2013. Governor O’Malley, President Miller, Speaker Busch January 2, 2014 Page Two In 2014 the Council will continue to sustain successful initiatives while championing new areas of focus aimed at addressing the prevalence of heart disease, encouraging Marylanders to use high quality health services by lowering out-of-pocket costs, and leveraging the many opportunities provided by federal health reform.
    [Show full text]
  • Howard County General Hospital Fiscal Year 2015 Community Benefits Report Narrative
    Howard County General Hospital Fiscal Year 2015 Community Benefits Report Narrative Howard County General Hospital Fiscal Year 2015 Community Benefits Report Narrative I. GENERAL HOSPITAL DEMOGRAPHICS AND CHARACTERISTICS: 1. Primary Service Area. Bed Inpatient Primary All other Percentage of Percentage of Designation: Admissions: Service Area Maryland Uninsured Patients who are Zip Codes: Hospitals Patients, by Medicaid Sharing Primary County: Recipients, by Service Area: County: 266 16,527 21042, 21043, Sheppard Pratt Anne Arundel Anne Arundel 21044, 21045, (Psychiatry 11.4% 0.7% 21046, 21075, only) 20723, 20777, Baltimore 16.4% Baltimore 0.9% 21041, 21150, Carroll 9.9% Baltimore City 21029, 21797, 1.8% 21036, 20763, Howard 16.0% 20759, 21794, Carroll 0.8% 20794, 21765, Montgomery 21738, 21737, 17.3% Howard 1.0% 21723 Prince George’s Montgomery1.0% 22.9% Prince George’s Source: JHM Market 0.9% Analysis and Business Planning Source: JHM Market Analysis and Business Planning Table I 2. Community Benefits Service Area. a. Description of Community Benefit Service Area. Howard County, located between Baltimore and Washington D.C., is a relatively affluent, educated and healthy community inhabited by 307,260 residents. According to the 2010 Census, the age distribution of Howard County was similar to the state, yet the over-55 age group will continue to increase over the next years. This, in fact, is currently happening. There was a .5% increase in the Howard County 65+ population over the past year. With this increase comes the probability that they may have chronic diseases that could consume more health dollars and less likelihood that prevention interventions will be possible.
    [Show full text]
  • Awareness and Advocacy in the Era of Health Care Reform
    WINTER 2014 This Edition Approved for 2 CME Credits. Complete and Return Journal CME Quiz at www.mdafp.org. DOT Training/SAM Study Hall/CAM Conference February 21-22, 2014 in Baltimore See p. 20 for Details! AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY IN THE ERA OF HEALTH CaRE REFORM Exciting and Health Insurance All Politics is Physician of the The Sunshine Act – Challenging Times Exchanges, The Local: A Report Day: Face-to- What Does it Mean in Health Care Affordable Care from AAFP’s 2013 Face Encounters for Us? Act, and the State Legislative with Maryland Maryland Health Conference Legislators Connection THE MARYLAND familydoctor / WINTER 2014 • 1 Maryland’s largest medical professional liability insurer is always on call for you. In today’s heated legal environment, even the best Doctors feel the constant threat of litigation. That’s why there’s Medical Mutual, the company created and directed by Doctors to safeguard your practice and professional reputation. Day in and day out, we’re here for you, providing high quality professional liability insurance, the most proactive claims defense, and the most dependable financial strength and stability in Maryland. With just one call, we’ll rush in— and put your worries out. It’s no wonder why more Maryland Doctors are protected by Medical Mutual than any other insurer. 225 International Circle | Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030 410-785-0050 | 800-492-0193 2 • THE MARYLAND familydoctor / WINTER 2014 THE MARYLAND familydoctor Winter 2014 Volume 50, Number 3 contents FEATURES President 5 Exciting and Challenging Times in Health Care by Yvette Oquendo-Berruz, M.D.
    [Show full text]
  • The Wharton Healthcare Quarterly
    THE WHARTON HEALTHCARE QUARTERLY FALL 2013 VOLUME 2, NUMBER 4 Healthcare Management Alumni Association The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania 204 Colonial Penn Center 3641 Locust Walk Philadelphia, PA 19104 215.898.6861 phone 215.573.2157 fax www.whartonhealthcare.org IN EVERY ISSUE Editor’s Letter ..........................................................................................................................................3 The President’s Desk ...............................................................................................................................5 Open Wide ...............................................................................................................................................7 The Philosopher’s Corner ........................................................................................................................8 Alumni News ..........................................................................................................................................9 FEATURED ARTICLES Part 2: From Patient to Partner — Creating Pull for the Shift to Population Health Management ........................................................................................................16 It’s “Just” That “Simple”. .........................................................................................................................18 Toward Creating a Model Public Health Community: Lessons Learned .................................................21 Part 1: Healing Relationships
    [Show full text]
  • Preferred Provider Organization 1 Preferred Provider Organization
    Preferred provider organization 1 Preferred provider organization Health care in the United States Government Health Programs • Federal Employees Health Benefits Program • Indian Health Service • Veterans Health Administration • Military Health System / TRICARE • Medicare • Medicaid / State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) • State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) • Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) • Prescription Assistance (SPAP) Private health coverage • Health insurance in the United States • Consumer-driven health care • Flexible spending account (FSA) • Health Reimbursement Account • Health savings account • High-deductible health plan (HDHP) • Medical savings account (MSA) • Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS) • Managed care (CCP) • Health maintenance organization (HMO) • Preferred provider organization (PPO) • Medical underwriting Health care reform law • Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (1986) • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (1996) • Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (2003) • Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (2005) • Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (2009) • Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010) State level reform • Massachusetts health care reform • Oregon Health Plan • Vermont health care reform • SustiNet (Connecticut) • Dirigo Health (Maine) Municipal health coverage • Fair Share Health Care Act (Maryland) • Healthy Howard (Howard Co., Maryland) • Healthy San Francisco In health insurance in the United States, a preferred provider organization (or PPO, sometimes referred to as a participating provider organization or preferred provider option) is a managed care organization of medical doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers who have covenanted with an insurer or a third-party administrator to provide health care at reduced rates to the insurer's or administrator's clients.
    [Show full text]
  • Rural Outreach Benefits Counseling Grant Program
    Rural Outreach Benefits Counseling Grant Program 2015 - 2018 WA MT ND ME OR MN VT ID NH SD WI NY MA WY MI CT RI PA IA NJ NV NE IN OH MD UT IL DE CA CO KS WV VA MO KY NC TN AZ OK NM AR SC AL GA MS TX LA AK FL HI Health Resources and Services Administration • 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857 • 301-443-0835 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration 2015-2018 Rural Outreach Benefits Counseling Grant Program The Rural Outreach Benefits Counseling Program is authorized by Section 330A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c), as amended. The Rural Outreach Benefits Counseling Program (Benefits Counseling Program) is a community-based pilot program targeted to improve outreach and service delivery in local and regional rural communities. The purpose of the three-year Benefits Counseling Program is to expand outreach, education and enrollment efforts to eligible uninsured individuals and families, and newly insured individuals and families in rural communities. The overarching goals of this grant funding are to coordinate and conduct innovative outreach activities through a strong consortium in order to: 1) Identify and enroll uninsured individuals and families who are eligible for public health insurance such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program, qualified health plans offered through Health Insurance Marketplaces and/or private health insurance plans in rural communities; and 2) Educate the newly insured individuals in rural communities about their health insurance benefits, help connect them to primary care and preventive services to which they now have access, and help them retain their health insurance coverage.
    [Show full text]