January 23, 2009 - Maine voters rejected a beverage tax in November designed to replace the current funding mechanism that supports the Dirigo Health Program.
State Profile
January 23, 2009 - In November, Montana residents overwhelmingly passed Initiative 155, which establishes the Healthy Montana Kids plan to expand and coordinate coverage for uninsured children under Medicaid and SCHIP.
State Profile
November 20, 2008 - To build trust with patients and improve continuity of care, a tribally run ambulatory clinic in Southern California assigned patients with chronic conditions to one of several teams of providers.
Case Study
November 7, 2008 - Beginning January 1, 2009, Illinois parents will be able to keep their unmarried children on their health insurance plans until they reach age 26, or age 30 if they are military veterans.
State Profile
November 7, 2008 - Indiana estimates that nearly 10,000 children up to age 19 have become newly eligible for the SCHIP program, and state officials expect a little more than half will enroll in the first year.
State Profile
November 7, 2008 - In July, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed into law comprehensive health reform that helps the state move toward universal access to health coverage.
State Profile
September 30, 2008 - Pittsburgh-based Allegheny General Hospital, with 829 beds, is part of the six-hospital West Penn Allegheny Health System and a partner in the Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative.
Case Study
September 15, 2008 - The Arizona Medicaid Health Information Exchange Utility is a Web-based system for exchanging patients' health records and other medical information among the state's Medicaid providers.
State Profile
September 15, 2008 - The Florida Health Information Network operates at the community level, with the state supporting and encouraging local collaborations focused on health information exchange, particularly the development of regional health information organizations.
State Profile
September 15, 2008 - Oregon's Patient Safety Commission is an independent agency with a mission to reduce patient harm.
State Profile
September 15, 2008 - With Governor Ed Rendell's support, Pennsylvania is undertaking a multifaceted approach to improve both health care quality and safety. State officials are working to align initiatives led by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Commission, departments of Health, Public Welfare, and Insurance, and an independent Patient Safety Authority.
State Profile
September 15, 2008 -
State Profile
August 25, 2008 - The Kansas SQII team has developed a plan to define, test, and evaluate a medical home delivery model through payment reform. Phase 1, from July 2008 through July 2009, focuses on "attaining a clearer understanding of what constitutes a medical home and its importance," according to Marcia Nelson, executive director of the Kansas Heath Policy Authority and leader of the SQII team.
State Profile
August 25, 2008 - Realizing that coverage expansion, the focus of the state's 2006 health reform legislation, is not enough to improve overall health system performance, Massachusetts is undertaking what some policymakers are calling "Health Care Reform 2.0," with a focus on improving health care quality.
State Profile
August 25, 2008 - In May 2008, Minnesota legislators and Governor Tim Pawlenty reached agreement on a comprehensive package of health care payment reforms designed to promote medical homes, quality measurement, and cost and quality transparency.
State Profile