Improving Systems
Health reform is capturing all the headlines these days. And much of the emphasis is on how to contain costs. Unfortunately, what Americans aren’t hearing in the debate is a discussion about the proven ways to reduce costs while improving quality of care and health outcomes. The regrettable assumption is that containing costs means taking […]
Two years after the launch of Florida’s Medicaid reform pilot it appears that beneficiaries’ access to heath care has worsened and financial benefits for the State of Florida remain unknown. Beneficiaries and providers think the Medicaid program has become more complex with more paperwork as a result of reform, and there are signs that access […]
A key feature of Florida’s Medicaid Reform pilot is the Enhanced Benefits Rewards Program which provides each Medicaid beneficiary up to $125 a year in credits for certain healthy behaviors, such as keeping a doctor’s appointment. The credits may be applied to the purchase of health and personal care products at participating pharmacies. This policy […]
People with disabilities and chronic conditions, including persons with mental illnesses, present challenges for managed care organizations. As the Florida Legislature, other policymakers and the public track the Medicaid reform pilot programs, it is important to assess how this unique managed care model works for some of the diverse populations affected by reform. This policy […]
This issue brief examines the prescription drug benefit available for Medicaid beneficiaries in Broward and Duval counties, the two pilot counties for Florida’s Medicaid reform program that began enrollment in September 2006. The research shows that half of the HMOs participating in the pilot are using the increased flexibility to limit their drug benefit. It […]
