Improving Systems
-
A Strong and Affordable Exchange Should be Children’s Priority
(Editor’s Note: John Bouman is the President of the Shriver Center. He is recognized for being one of the most effective and thoughtful public-benefit advocates in the country. Say Ahhh! asked him for his thoughts on national health reform.) We all worry about our children so of course we are concerned about the treatment of…
-
Pediatric Medical Homes Improve Health and Lower Costs
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…
-
Florida’s Experience with Medicaid Reform: What has been Learned in the First Two Years?
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…
-
The Enhanced Benefits Rewards Program in Florida: Is it Changing the Way Medicaid Beneficiaries Approach Their Health?
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…
-
Florida’s Medicaid Reform Pilot Programs: Challenges with Mental Health Services
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…
-
Uncertain Access to Needed Drugs: Florida’s Medicaid Reform Creates Challenges for Patients
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…
-
Waving Cautionary Flags: Initial Reactions from Doctors and Patients to Florida’s Medicaid Changes
This issue brief explores the initial reactions and experiences of Medicaid beneficiaries and doctors participating in Florida’s Medicaid reform program that began enrollment in two pilot counties in September 2006. It reports that provider participation is declining and that the reform program has made Medicaid more complex. It also highlights that children are the largest…
-
Evaluating Florida’s Medicaid Pilots: Early Reactions from Doctors and Patients
Author: Joan Alker Assessing Florida’s Medicaid Reform Project — Presentation Document May 2007
-
Florida’s Medicaid Reform
Authors: Joan Alker and Jack Hoadley Duval County Medical Society Forum — Presentation Document February 2007
-
Medicaid Changes: What Will They Mean for Broward and Duval Counties, and Beyond?
In December 2005, Governor Bush signed into law a bill authorizing implementation of the state’s major Medicaid redesign in two pilot counties, Broward and Duval. This issue brief provides details of Florida’s program, the changes that will occur, and the proposed evaluation of the pilot. This issue brief was released as part of the Assessing…