August 3, 2012 - Large numbers of Americans experience gaps in their health care coverage, according to a Commonwealth Fund-supported study. Eighty-nine million people—36.3 percent of Americans ages 4 to 64—were uninsured for at least one month between 2004 and 2007, including 23 million Americans who lost coverage more than once.
In the Literature
July 26, 2012 - This Commonwealth Fund–supported study reviewed the financial performance of different types of Medicaid managed care plans, finding plans that manage predominantly Medicaid members with multiproduct plans have lower costs.
In Brief
July 25, 2012 - This analysis of state exchange laws offers a glimpse into the choices being made by the 13 states that, together with the District of Columbia, as of May 2012 had begun the process of establishing an exchange, either through legislation or executive order. Also see an interactive map showing the status of state health exchange legislation and key provisions of laws and executive orders.
Issue Brief
July 20, 2012 - In a new article published online by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Commonwealth Fund–supported researchers discuss findings from their survey of more than 500 U.S. hospitals that looked at the use of 10 practices associated with lower readmission rates for heart failure and heart attack.
In the Literature
July 18, 2012 - The authors of this Commonwealth Fund-supported study found that Medicare beneficiaries are more satisfied with their health coverage—and have fewer health care access and medical bill problems—than adults with private insurance.
In the Literature
July 17, 2012 - This brief outlines differences that stand out in three states' initial approaches: the numbers and types of people initially appointed to the boards governing the exchanges; the role of the board relative to the state legislature; how the exchanges interact with existing insurance markets; and the involvement of stakeholders in each state.
Issue Brief
July 13, 2012 - Twenty percent of U.S. women ages 19 to 64 were uninsured in 2010, up from 15 percent in 2000. This issue brief examines the implications of poor coverage for women in the United States by comparing their experiences to those of women in 10 other industrialized nations, all of which have universal health insurance systems.
Issue Brief
July 12, 2012 - A Commonwealth Fund-supported study of a global reimbursement pilot project in Massachusetts found the payment models achieved average two-year savings of 2.8 percent. These results indicate such programs may be effective at controlling health care spending and improving quality.
In the Literature
July 6, 2012 - Drawing on peer-reviewed research and organizational change theory, the authors of this Commonwealth Fund–supported study identified attributes associated with the successful implementation of patient-centered innovation in health care.
In Brief
July 6, 2012 - Adapting to new models of care, like the patient-centered medical home, requires an understanding of the different types of cultures that are present in physician groups and how those varying cultures influence performance. This Commonwealth Fund–supported study examined eight multispecialty medical practices, looking for evidence of seven common cultures found in physician organizations.
In Brief
July 3, 2012 - By contrasting the characteristics of six high-performing safety-net hospitals with those of three low-performers, Commonwealth Fund–supported researchers found that the high-performers excelled at coordinating patients, engaging in partnerships, and investing in human capital.
In Brief
July 3, 2012 - To determine the financial impact of restricting payment to hospitals for patient readmissions, this Commonwealth Fund–supported study assessed the frequency of readmissions at California hospitals that could be tied to avoidable medical complications.
In Brief
July 3, 2012 - What are the necessary characteristics of a medical home, and what changes must physician practices make to their infrastructure, organization, and care delivery processes to fully transform? Commonwealth Fund–supported researchers reviewed the professional literature and convened a panel of experts to find out.
In Brief
July 2, 2012 - This Commonwealth Fund–supported found that primary care offices that offer after-hours care achieve physician buy-in; effective communication; make appropriate staffing adjustments, and make an overall commitment to improving access and continuity in patient–provider relationships.
In the Literature
July 2, 2012 - This issue brief examines nine hospitals that recently implemented a comprehensive electronic health record system and finds that the systems facilitate patient safety and quality improvement in many ways.
Issue Brief