Reports Evaluate State Health Care Reforms, Efforts To Extend Health Insurance To Uninsured

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 28 Apr 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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"Identifying and Evaluating Equity Provisions in State Health Care Reform," Commonwealth Fund: The report by Brian Smedley and researchers from the Opportunity Agenda and Families USA identifies state policies that promote equitable health care access and quality -- particularly among racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants and people who lack a proficiency in English -- by expanding health coverage and access to care, improving quality, empowering patients, upgrading health system infrastructure and addressing social and community-level determinants of health. The report also provides an evaluation of current laws, regulations and proposals in five states -- California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Washington state -- and identifies additional steps states can take to increase equity in health care (Commonwealth Fund release, 4/24). "Understanding the Uninsured: Tailoring Policy Solutions for Different Subpopulations," National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation: The report found that one in four people who lack health insurance in the U.S. is eligible for public insurance programs but is not enrolled because people are not aware the programs exist, do not know how to enroll, fear being linked with a publicly financed program or are unable to maintain enrollment. The report, using 2006 data from the 2007 Current Population Survey, details policy options to extend coverage to the uninsured, as well as options for covering uninsured young adults and older adults who are not yet eligible for Medicare (NIHCM release, 4/25).

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