This week’s Puget Sound Business Journal is reporting that Clarity Health Services has raised an additional $4.6 million in capital. Clarity sponsored our Alaska conference, and it’s CEO Peter Gelpi participated on the health information technology panel. When we release our Washington agenda, you might expect to see him there as well. (more…)
This Sunday, the NY Times will be publishing an opinion piece Sunday from Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel on the relationship between costs and outcomes. It’s posted online early. It is not a particularly innovative piece for those that follow the health care cost trends closely.
That said, what I think is interesting is how Emanuel puts the scope of the costs in context. Too often, we through words like billion or trillion around but fail to fully understand the magnitude of the size. (more…)
Yesterday at 6:00 pm, HCA Administrator Doug Porter sent out an email titled “Preparing for Special Session – Message To Our Stakeholders.” In that he discussed the difficult choices facing state government as Governor Gregoire looks to cut $2 billion in funds from the budget due to the continual economic decline. (more…)
With the presidential primary heating up, and the governor’s race starting to pick up steam, few folks interested in health policy are watching the 2011 election. This year, local elected officials, from hospital districts to the county council, are on the ballot. The normal legislative elections occur on “even” years – 2012, 2010, etc. – with the local races on odd years.
But if you talk to the big money donors that fund gubernatorial elections, they are watching this year very closely.
The reason is that often local races can serve as an indicator of the mood for the electorate, much in the way a poll can. So, while Jay Inslee and Rob McKenna aren’t on the ballot this year, there may be trends that appear this fall that can grow with the infusion of resources in 2012. (more…)
With the looming special session set to begin on November 28th, another round of cuts is on its way. Having gone through this a few short months ago, few folks are excited – or even able to endure – another round of cuts.
At the Health Care Authority, Doug Porter has identified (more…)
Ingrid McDonald serves as the Advocacy Director for AARP Washington, and is a key member of our Convening Panel. Last year, she was an influential voice reminding folks on the Convening Panel that politics – for better or worse – are a central factor in how policy gets made.
She is a realist about politics, and understands that there isn’t a great idea out there that will get implemented on it’s own merits. You need votes to get policy passed in the legislature – not just a good idea. For a little more on Ingrid, read about her here, here, or here.
The recently released CMS rule on ACOs, once thought of as the primary (if not only) delivery system reform in the Affordable Care Act, has been met with considerable concern.
For example, after surveying its members, (more…)
Premera & Providence an example of partnerships to improve healthcare Premera Blue Cross and Providence Health & Services have been working on several collaborative projects in recent months that will improve healthcare delivery in Washington. This partnership will grow into additional programs over time, but the first project with patient-centered medical homes in Everett, Olympia, Spokane, and Walla Walla, which launched on May 1. We’re excited about them and believe they’re important. (more…)
On January 31, 2011, Judge Roger Vinson of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Florida entered his ruling in Florida, et al. v. United State Department of Health and HumanServices, et al., (“Florida v. DHHS”) declaring that Section 1501 (“Individual Mandate”) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Health Care Reform” or “PPACA”) to be unconstitutional as the legislation exceeds the powers granted to the Congress pursuant to the Commerce Clause in the United States Constitution. (more…)
Good behavioral health care for kids saves money, lives
Thursday, October 20th, 2011Everyone is encouraged to go on line and simply Google the term Adverse Childhood Experiences and you will find a wealth of information instantly available.
Research reveals very strong links between Adverse Childhood Experiences and use of injected drugs among both men and women as well as a host of other physical problems. (78% of injection drug use by women can be attributed to Adverse Childhood Experiences and 67% for the combined population of men and women.) Dr. Felitti (one of the authors of the study) asserts that the root cause of most addictions is the attempt to cope with unresolved and unhealed wounds from Adverse Childhood Experiences. You are again urged to read more about this on line. (more…)
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