Community Health Teams Are Helping Medicaid Programs Manage Care for High-Need Patients

Community Health Teams Are Helping Medicaid Programs Manage Care for High-Need Patients

May 21, 2013 - To provide more effective and efficient care for beneficiaries with complex health needs, Medicaid programs in some states have turned to local community health teams to augment the capacity of physician practices. A new report examines multidisciplinary community health team programs in eight states. Read ›

Time for Dialogue Among Primary Care Clinicians

Time for Dialogue Among Primary Care Clinicians

May 16, 2013 - An editorial by The Commonwealth Fund's David Blumenthal and Melinda Abrams explores one approach to addressing the primary care workforce shortage: using nurse practitioners to provide a wide range of primary care services. Read ›

'Medicare Essential' Proposal Could Save Billions, Improve Care

'Medicare Essential' Proposal Could Save Billions, Improve Care

May 6, 2013 - Combining Medicare's hospital, physician, and prescription drug coverage with commonly purchased private supplemental coverage into one health plan could produce national savings of $180 billion over a decade while improving care for beneficiaries, a new Health Affairs study finds. Read ›

Millions Still Lack Affordable Coverage, but Young Adult Gains Bode Brighter Future

Millions Still Lack Affordable Coverage, but Young Adult Gains Bode Brighter Future

April 26, 2013 - Eighty-four million people―nearly half of all working-age U.S. adults―went without health insurance for a time last year or were underinsured because of high out-of-pocket costs relative to income, according to this new study based on findings from the Commonwealth Fund's 2012 Biennial Health Insurance Survey. Read ›

Medicaid Plans' Community Outreach Efforts Starting to Bear Fruit

Medicaid Plans' Community Outreach Efforts Starting to Bear Fruit

April 19, 2013 - This issue brief explores how four managed care organizations serving vulnerable populations are changing the way care is delivered by investing in a strong community presence. Read ›

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Health Policy Reform

Visit the Health Reform Resource Center

Use our timeline and interactive tool to explore the provisions and regulations of the Affordable Care Act. New: Medicaid expansion regulations. Read ›

Health Care Delivery

Stabilizing U.S. Health Spending While Moving Toward a High Performance Health Care System

The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System recommends a set of synergistic provider payment reforms, consumer incentives, and systemwide reforms to confront costs while improving health system performance. This approach could slow spending by a cumulative $2 trillion by 2023. Read ›

Blog

May 16, 2013

Improving the Medicaid Primary Care Rate Increase ›

Since January 2013, Medicaid agencies and health plans have been required to pay for primary care for Medicaid beneficiaries at the generally higher rates paid to providers by Medicare. The Center for Health Care Strategies' David Bricklin-Small and Tricia McGinnis say that to ensure continued access to primary care, the increase should be maintained beyond its two-year timeframe. Read ›

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Washington Health Policy Week in Review ›

Newly confirmed as CMS administrator, Marilyn Tavenner eyes a summer of change; Medicaid: one state moves closer to expansion, one stalls; and more. Read ›

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Health Reform and You: How the Affordable Care Act Expands Health Insurance Coverage