Monthly Archives: January 2007

Insurers’ “200,000″ Claims Are Premature and Half-Baked

Posted on January 31, 2007 by

Based on yesterday’s Boston Globe front page story, 200,000 is the number of the moment. Problem is, nobody, including the insurers, knows what that number means. If the definition of “Minimum Creditable Coverage” finalized in May resembles the Connector Board’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Market, MA Health Reform | 5 Comments

Worcester Firm to Be Recommended as Sub-Connector

Posted on January 31, 2007 by

There are three sets of insurance industry players in the MA health: carriers/health plans, brokers, and intermediaries. There are only three intermediaries in the MA market. Intermediaries work with the very small firms of 1-5 employees and handle their benefits … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Market, MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

A Health Summit in Lawrence

Posted on January 30, 2007 by

Last Friday, the Lawrence Mayor’s Health Task Force held a Health Summit. The theme, “Improving Access to Health Care Through Collaboration,” encompassed work being carried out in Lawrence by the Mayor’s Health Task Force (MHTF). Attendees included Commonwealth Care MCOs, … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Health | 1 Comment

Options for Controlling Rising Health Costs — from Commonwealth Fund

Posted on January 30, 2007 by

Click here for access to a new Commonwealth Fund report on options for controlling rising health care costs. Lots of good directions and ideas — good fodder for the Quality and Cost Council, we hope. Here’s the exec. summary: Health … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality, US health policy | Leave a comment

Upcoming Connector Board Meetings

Posted on January 30, 2007 by

An additional meeting of the full Insurance Connector Board has been scheduled for mid-March. So the upcoming schedule of meetings is as follows: Thursday, Feb. 8th Thursday, March 8th Tuesday, March 20th More details to follow.

Posted in MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

Health Reform Implementation on NECN Newsnight Tonight

Posted on January 29, 2007 by

NewsNight with Jim Braude, the evening news program on New England Cable News, will devote this evening’s show at 7pm to an update on health reform implementation. Scheduled guests include Sen. Richard Moore, HCFA’s John McDonough, Cheri Andes from the … Continue reading →

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New National Reports on Quality, Disparities

Posted on January 28, 2007 by

Every year since 2003, the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released national report cards on the progress of the US health care system in improving quality and reducing racial and ethnic health disparities. We just learned … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality, Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities | Leave a comment

A Connector Conundrum and a Modest Proposal

Posted on January 27, 2007 by

Let’s consider an obscure aspect of the health reform law in light of recent developments on the topic of affordability. Then we’ll offer a modest proposal – the Patrick Administration should establish a public/private working group on the Individual Mandate … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 10 Comments

“Together, We Can Do Better”

Posted on January 26, 2007 by

Click here for the new report of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO): “Mandating Health Care Insurance: What Is Truly Affordable for Massachusetts Families?” And here’s an account of their delegate assembly held last evening: Last night, GBIO held their … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 8 Comments

Report from Families USA Conference — the “U” Word Is Back

Posted on January 26, 2007 by

WASHINGTON DC — FAMILIES USA CONFERENCE: The big health reform wave of this era will take place beginning in 2009 with the inauguration of a new President and a new Congress, for whom national health reform to cover all uninsured … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Politics, US health policy | Leave a comment