In The Spotlight

Getting the Most Bang for our Post-Health Reform Buck: Enrolling and Retaining Everyone Who’s Eligible

One of the main goals of health reform is to increase access to health care. Frequently overlooked in this effort is finding effective and efficient mechanisms for determining eligibility and enrolling those who are eligible. Providing subsidies to increase access into programs such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) accomplishes little if they go unused. Experience with the Medicare Savings Programs, CHIP and the Health Coverage Tax Credit have shown that there are big gaps between the number of individuals who are eligible and the number participating. How can recruitment and enrollment mechanisms streamline participation in public programs? What has worked in the past? How can enrollment in public programs affect states’ budgets? What have states done in Medicaid and CHIP to increase enrollment? Why have some states been quicker to streamline enrollment and eligibility procedures for public programs? To answer these questions and others, the Alliance for Health Reform and PhRMA are holding a briefing on December 1. Info & Registration 

The health reform proposals being considered in the House and Senate may impose responsibilities on both individuals and employers to have, and help pay for, coverage. Subsidies for some small businesses and for individuals with incomes up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level have been proposed. But will individuals and businesses be able to pay the amounts required of them above the subsidies? This Nov. 20 briefing cosponsored by the Alliance and The Commonwealth Fund explored this question and related ones.  Read More

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) play a crucial role in the U.S. health insurance system by providing coverage for more than one in four children. And yet, more than 8 million children remain uninsured today, 70 percent of whom are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. What factors influence children’s coverage? How could the reform bills in Congress change children's coverage? To discuss these questions and others, the Alliance for Health Reform and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation sponsored a November 13 briefing.  Read More

This briefing examined the quasi-governmental authorities that Germany, the Netherlands and France have established to control health care costs, oversee quality, and regulate insurance and provider payment. The topic is timely as Congress considers setting up a new high-level entity to make recommendations to Congress on reducing health care costs and improving quality. Cosponsored by The Commonwealth Fund.  Read More