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Health Reform Resources
SCI keeps the Federal Reform Resources Web page (www.statecoverage.org/health-reform-resources) up-to-date with the most recent information from the states, the federal government, and health policy organizations in an effort to guide our readers through the health reform implementation process. We know there are several places to go for the latest health reform resources, and we thank you for using SCI as one of your trusted sources. Here are some of the most recent resources that can be found on our Federal Reform page:
Insurance Market Reforms:
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services released a 2012 Annual Rate Review report highlighting that the ACA rate review and Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) provisions have saved an estimated $1 billion for consumers.
The Urban Institute
This brief examines the conditions under which competition in health insurance exchanges is likely to be effective in placing downward pressure on insurance premiums.
The Urban Institute
This paper describes the status of rate review programs in the 10 states participating in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s monitoring and tracking project: Alabama, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Virginia. Information is drawn from publicly available sources, state legislation, and site visit interviews in each of the 10 states.
Insurance Exchanges:
State Health Reform Assistance Network
This template, prepared by Manatt Health Solutions with support from the State Health Reform Assistance Network, was developed in order to help drive state decisions and is based on the eligibility business functions that state exchanges and Medicaid agencies are required to support pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), and related federal implementation regulations.
Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange
Minnesota's Health Insurance Exchange Small Employer and Employees Work Group has drafted proposed recommendations on the inclusion and interface of tax savings or tax credit programs for the small employer within the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange. Interested stakeholders are invited to review the draft document and to submit comments.
Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange
Minnesota's Plan Certification Work Group has recommended a proposed set of Qualified Health Plan (QHP) certification standards for the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange. Minnesota's Exchange Advisory Task Force has also submitted for consideration a draft of proposed Guiding Principles for the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange.
The University of Massachusetts Medical School and the National Academy of Social Insurance
This report, a product of a NASI project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, examines the work and lessons learned from “Early Innovator” and other advanced states as they gear up for the changes brought on by health care reform.
Medicaid:
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene developed a white paper that outlines the continuity of care issues individuals will face as they transition between Medicaid and the exchange.
Milliman
This Milliman report, for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, projects the cost of certain scenarios for the ACA’s Medicaid expansion. The authors state that Indiana will spend $2 billion of its own money between fiscal years 2014 and 2020 if the state opts for full expansion.
State Health Reform Assistance Network
To assist in determining which federal health care reform provisions require states to submit amendments to their Medicaid state plan, the Center for Health Care Strategies, with support from the State Health reform Assistance Network, has developed a resource which catalogues required and optional provisions that may require amendments, including links to the applicable ACA text, deadlines for approval, and available guidance.
Strategic Planning:
State Health Reform Assistance Network
Manatt Health Solutions with support from the State Health Reform Assistance Network, developed this workplan which identifies critical state-based exchange implementation tasks to aid states in achieving state-based exchange certification by the November 16, 2012 Blueprint application submission deadline.
Kaiser Family Foundation
This annual survey of employers provides a detailed look at trends in employer-sponsored health coverage, including premiums, employee contributions, cost-sharing provisions, and other relevant information. This year’s premium increase (3 percent for individuals; 4 percent for families) is moderate by historical standards, but outpaced the growth in workers’ wages (1.7 percent) and general inflation (2.3 percent). Since 2002, premiums have increased 97 percent, three times as fast as wages (33 percent) and inflation (28 percent).
The U.S. Census Bureau
The U.S. Census Bureau announced that in 2011 the number of people without health insurance coverage declined from 50.0 million in 2010 to 48.6 million in 2011, as did the percentage without coverage - from 16.3 percent in 2010 to 15.7 percent in 2011.
Delivery System Redesign:
Bipartisan Policy Center
This Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) background paper provides a basic overview of the drivers of health care cost growth, and serves as an analytical starting point for BPC's work on health care cost containment.
The Urban Institute
This Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded paper, authored by the Urban Institute, debates the benefits and drawbacks of bundled payments and global capitation.
