Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Deputy Director Nate Checketts discussed the department’s challenges, successes, and priorities during the 2024 Utah State of Reform Health Policy Conference in March. In the past four years, DHHS has seen many significant changes and challenges, Checketts said. In 2020, the department implemented Medicaid expansion and dealt … Read more
Improving the healthcare consumer experience requires education, advocacy, and systemic change, according to experts who discussed the issue at the 2024 Utah State of Reform Health Policy Conference last month. Maury Giles, chief growth officer at Heart and Mind Strategies, said his company examined national data from a variety of stakeholder groups—including policymakers, patients, providers, … Read more
The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model has helped thousands of Michiganders achieve successful whole-person healthcare outcomes. Professionals who work with CCBHCs discussed their impact on the state during the 2023 Michigan State of Reform Health Policy Conference. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ (MDHHS) request to become a CCBHC … Read more
According to Dulce Diez, director of the Office of Health Equity at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), access to healthcare is the biggest issue in Utah. We caught up with Diez at our recent 2023 Utah State of Reform Health Policy Conference to hear about the main topics she’s focused on … Read more
This edition includes information about the state’s preparation for upcoming Medicaid eligibility redeterminations and newly enacted health legislation. Thanks for reading! Eli Kirshbaum State of Reform 1. State agencies prepare for Medicaid redeterminations The first in a series of scheduled rate reductions to Utah Medicaid’s enhanced FMAP will occur at the start of April, … Read more
This month’s newsletter features a conversation with University of Utah Health’s Dr. Amy Locke on innovative approaches to health care policy, new data from DHHS on health inequities related to COVID-19, and an update on the work of the One Utah Health Collaborative. Thanks for reading! Eli Kirshbaum State of Reform 1. Q&A: Dr. Amy … Read more
Texas Health Resources was recognized as a Healthy People 2030 Champion for its commitment to the vision and mission of the Healthy People initiative. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) named its selections based on an organization’s demonstrated interest in, understanding of, and experience with disease prevention, health promotion, social determinants of … Read more
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Health Equity Director, Dulce Diez, said lowering the cost of primary care is the most important way to bridge the equity gap for underserved Utahns. At our 2022 Utah State of Reform Health Policy Conference, Diez sat down with us to discuss the importance of lowering … Read more
Tracy Gruber is the Executive Director of the newly merged Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The merger of DHHS became official July 1st in efforts to streamline operations between the Department of Health and Department of Human Services. In this Q&A, Gruber discusses the benefits of the merger and the next steps … Read more
Today marks the official merge to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the release of the new department’s website. The Utah Department of Health and the Department of Human Services have been working since March 2021—since the passage of HB 365—to effectively and efficiently combine the two departments. Since … Read more