In The Spotlight

Better Care - Lower Costs: Exploring the Promise of Patient Engagement

Engaging consumers more directly in their care may improve health outcomes and help control the costs of care. This program focused on the potential for changing consumer behavior to promote the use of effective interventions and discourage unnecessary care. Cosponsored by the AARP Public Policy Institute. Read More

Medicaid programs are feeling the strain as enrollment grows while state revenues come in lower than projected. How are Medicaid directors coping? How is the recession affecting low-income individuals and families? This briefing, cosponsored by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, addressed these and related questions.  Read More

Health insurance exchanges can potentially serve a variety of policy ends, from promoting transparency and competition among health plans, to pooling or reallocating risk and administering subsidies for those unable to afford health insurance premiums. This briefing, cosponsored by the Alliance and The Commonwealth Fund, looked at how the House and Senate reform bills deal with exchanges. One major difference is that the House proposal would set up a national exchange, with states having the right to opt out; the Senate version envisions state exchanges. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each approach? How do the respective bills address the issue of risk adjustment? Who is allowed to participate in the exchanges?  Read More

Unhealthy behavior is costing America billions in health care expenditures, and making us less healthy as a people. Many large employers, recognizing the impact on the health of their workers and the companies’ bottom lines, offer financial incentives to their employees to exercise regularly, improve their diets, lose weight and quit smoking, among other things. In the course of the health reform debate, the issue has arisen: which behaviors or health outcomes should be encouraged, and how large should the incentives be? What types of prevention models are working for business to keep workers healthier and restrain health costs? To answer these questions and others, the Alliance for Health Reform and AARP sponsored a December 7 briefing. Read More