Health Care Reform 

Most Americans unaware of mental health reforms

By: Michelle Diament

Disability Scoop

January 25, 2011

Most Americans are unaware of a recently enacted law (The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008) that requires health insurers to apply the same coverage and payment standards for mental health services that are available for other types of medical services. A poll conducted by the American Psychology Association found that 56% of respondents pointed to cost as a reason for not seeking mental health treatment.   To learn more about the Act visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website.

Voices of Health Reform: Kayla's Story

By: Stephanie Cutter

The White House Blog

January 27, 2011

When Kayla Holmstrom was 9 years old, she was in a serious accident. A chronic bone infection in her leg that followed has required over 25 surgeries and could flare up again at any time. Now a young adult, Kayla is studying to be a nurse at South Dakota State University. As she neared her 24^th birthday, she was at risk of losing her health coverage under her parent's plan. A part of the Affordable Care Act called the Patient's Bill of Rights will allow Kayla and other young people like her to keep their health coverage under their parent's plan until they turn 26.

Kayla's story is one in a series demonstrating how average Americans are benefiting from the health reform law. The new act is predicted to help 1.2 million young adults remain on their parent's health insurance and starting in 2014 offers additional protection for those over age 19 who have a pre-existing condition.

Ignoring Health Law is  "Risky Posture" for States: KHN Interview with Alan Weil

By: Mary Agnes Carey and Marilyn Werber Serafini

Kaiser Health News

February 7, 2011

 An article featured in our February e-newsletter reported on Federal judge Roger Vinson's ruling that the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional and as a result, the entire law is void.  Based on this, Florida Governor Rick Scott has announced that his state could legally halt all implementation of the law's provisions. Read this interview with Alan Weil, Executive Director of the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), policy researcher and former Colorado state health adviser, to learn more about his thoughts on Florida's gamble, , high risk pools, the challenges facing states in implementing ACA and more.

Medicaid

Crushed by Medicaid costs, states expand managed care

By: Christine Vestal

Stateline

February 4, 2011

In an effort to rein in Medicaid spending, states have now moved 46% of their Medicaid caseloads into managed care programs. States hope that by moving their most expensive Medicaid patients into fiscally efficient managed care programs, significant savings can be made. But how much is really generated by moving Medicaid patients into managed care? And how challenging is this process?

New Medicaid law: Needed reform or "Scrooge-like? (Illinois) 

By: Dean Olsen

Aledo Times Record

February 4, 2011

A new Illinois Medicaid bill signed into law on January 25 has sparked controversy among state policymakers and child health advocates. The law, which includes a managed care expansion and an income cap on Medicaid, is expected to save the state between $624 million and $744 million over five years. Opponents of the law cite concerns surrounding the bill's eventual removal of 3,000 to 4,000 children from Illinois' public health insurance program and new income eligibility caps at 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

Sebelius offers alternatives to Medicaid (MOE) waivers

By: Jason Millman

The Hill

February 3, 2011

Governors in at least 33 states have asked US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to 'waive' the requirement that they maintain their state's eligibility criteria for Medicaid as a way of bringing down their budget deficits.   On January 3d, the Secretary sent a letter to the Governors, outlining the ways in which Medicaid spending could be reduced under current law without cutting eligibility. Read the full text of Secretary Sebelius' letter on the HHS website.  

Data and Multimedia 

Securing a Healthy Future: The Commonwealth Fund State Scorecard on Child Health System Performance, 2011

By: Sabrina How, Ashley-Kay Fryer, Douglas McCarthy, Cathy Schoen, and Edward Schor

The Commonwealth Fund

February 2, 2011

Despite the economic crisis, children's health care coverage has actually expanded, thanks to the efforts of state and federal policymakers and advocates. However, great disparities remain across states. Check out a new interactive map, state-by-state scorecard, and podcast by The Commonwealth Fund to see how each state ranks on 20 indicators on children's health system performance.

System of care approaches in residential treatment facilities serving children with serious behavioral health needs

By: Kamala Allen, Sheila Pires, and Jonathan Brown

Centers for Health Care Strategies, Inc.

March 2010

One in five children and youth in the US has a mental health disorder, and residential treatment facilities (RTFs) often provide the mental health services these children need. But how commonly do these facilities implement a system of care approach that coordinates with community providers and engages patients and their families? To what extent do RTFs provide home- and community-based services that are supplemental to traditional behavioral health care? This issue brief from CHCS reveals the results of a national survey of RTFs providing care to children and youth with serious behavioral health needs, and answers these critical questions.

Connecting Kids to Coverage: Continuing the Progress

2010 CHIPRA Annual Report

On the second anniversary of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA), the Department of Health and Human Services released the program's second annual report. Connecting Kids to Coverage: Continuing the Progress highlights the successes of CHIPRA since its reauthorization, and provides leaders and policymakers with the support and information they need to cover more children in their states and communities.

Catalyst Picks

Big cut to child services assailed: Mass. Lawmakers rip Patrick plan

By: Kyle Cheney

The Boston Globe

February 1, 2011

In response to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's recent decision to decrease funding to early intervention (EI) programs by 27%, advocates and lawmakers alike have spoken out in opposition, arguing the cuts would eliminate or reduce EI services to 15,000 children - half of those currently participating in EI programs provided by the state.  Early intervention is comprised of developmental services provided to children up to age 3 who have or are at risk for developmental delays; supporters of EI programs assert that over half of EI participants avoid special education services because of the assistance they received in their earliest years of life.

Early head start dropped from governor's budget (Kansas) 

By: Dave Ranney

Kansas Health Institute (KHI)

January 24, 2011

Governor Brownback's proposed budget plan for Kansas has dropped support for the state's Early Head Start programs, Family Centered System of Care grant program and Coordinated School Health program. Instead the governor has proposed expanding the child-care assistance program and has called for a new program called Reading Roadmap that would target the long-term goal of improving reading scores of fourth-grade students. Supporters of the Early Head Start program say their services were able to improve the quality of care provided for infants and toddlers whereas child care assistance would require providers to meet only basic quality standards. Child advocates believe that there may be a misunderstanding of the role of Early Head Start in improving learning and combating childhood poverty.

Autism legislation advances in Virginia

By: Fredrick Kunkle and Anita Kumar

The Washington Post

February 5, 2011

Virginia's Republican-led House approved a bill this week that would mandate private insurance coverage for autism in a 74-yes, 24-no vote. Backed by House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford), the bill is expected to pass the General Assembly in a hard-fought victory for Virginian parents of children with autism. Of course, the bill's success has not been welcomed by all: some policymakers are concerned with the state creating yet another insurance mandate while simultaneously fighting the coverage expansions accompanying federal health care reform. If the bill passes the General Assembly, Virginia will join 23 other states in mandating insurance coverage for autism treatment and therapies.

Nearly half of families in high-deductible health plans whose members have chronic conditions face substantial financial burden

By: Alison Galbraith, Dennis Ross-Degnan, Stephan Soumerai, Meredith Rosenthal, Charlene Gay, and Tracy Lieu

Health Affairs

February 2011

In a recent research project, a multifamily survey assessed and compared the financial burden of high-deductible health plans versus traditional health plans for families of people who are chronically ill. According to the authors, the study was one of the first to examine the burden of health care costs on families with a member who has a chronic condition. One of the most striking takeaways is that almost half of the families in high-deductible plans felt their health care posed a significant family burden, compared to just one-fifth of the families in traditional plans.  

 

If you have suggestions for news items related to coverage and financing of care for CYSHCN please email Week in Review editor and Catalyst Center Research Assistant Sheila Phicil by 12 pm EST on Friday at sphicil@bu.edu.