The Connection
A roundup of recent Fund publications, charts, multimedia, and other timely content.
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October 16, 2023
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Will Georgia’s Medicaid Waiver Help People with Disabilities?
Georgia, one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid eligibility, recently launched a new Medicaid waiver program that makes more residents eligible for coverage. The program features lower income-eligibility limits and introduces a work requirement for new enrollees. On To the Point, researchers MaryBeth Musumeci of George Washington University and Megan Douglas of the Morehouse School of Medicine report that while the work requirement purportedly includes reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, Georgia’s waiver doesn’t address program capacity for handling these requests.
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Restricting Short-Term Plans Won’t Increase Number of Uninsured
Short-term health insurance plans are exempt from key Affordable Care Act protections. For example, consumers with preexisting medical conditions who purchase these plans can be denied coverage, and anyone who buys one may not be covered for important health services. While the Trump administration loosened regulation of short-term plans, with a stated goal of increasing coverage and reducing the uninsured rate, the Biden administration has proposed limiting these plans’ duration. New York University’s Dong Ding and Sherry Glied write on To the Point that, contrary to what critics of this reversal think, it is unlikely to increase the number of people who are uninsured.
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FEATURED CHART
High U.S. Health Care Spending: Where Is It All Going?
The United States spends twice as much per person on health care compared to other high-income nations. Less is known about how those dollars are distributed. According to a new Commonwealth Fund report, more than half of “excess” U.S. spending is associated with factors that contribute to higher prices. Given that prescription drugs and administrative costs across the health sector together account for as much as 40 percent of excess spending, researchers say targeting reductions in these areas would likely have a substantial impact on health spending.
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Confidentiality and Transparency in Medicare Negotiations
With negotiations over Medicare prescription drug prices about to begin, a key question is how federal officials will maintain both confidentiality and transparency during the process. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued final guidance that strikes a balance, say Kate Meyer and Jeremy Sharp of Waxman Strategies. Writing on To the Point, they report that to ensure confidentiality, CMS will not publicly discuss ongoing drug negotiations unless manufacturers do so first. And, responding to requests for greater transparency, CMS says it will publish explanations of final negotiated prices that will include descriptions of nonproprietary data used to determine those prices.
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Apply for the Fellowship in Minority Health Policy
The Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Minority Health Policy at Harvard University is pleased to announce its call for applications ([link removed] ) for 2024–25. At Harvard Medical School, applications are now being accepted for this one-year, degree-granting, full-time fellowship beginning July 2024. The application deadline is December 1, 2023, at 5:00 pm ET. All application materials must be submitted in the online application system by the deadline. To learn more about the fellowship and application process, join us for an informational webinar ([link removed] ) on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm ET.
Fund President Joseph Betancourt Elected to NAM
Commonwealth Fund President Joseph R. Betancourt, M.D., has been elected a member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Betancourt, one of the nation’s preeminent leaders in health care, equity, quality, and community health, became the Commonwealth Fund’s president in January. Elected by his peers and colleagues, Betancourt is now part of an esteemed group of professionals at NAM making important contributions to the advancement of science and health equity and providing independent, authoritative advice nationally and globally.
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Betancourt to Speak at Rural Health Summit
The Summit on the Future of Rural Health Care on October 18 will bring together policymakers, health system leaders, industry experts, prominent tech leaders, and frontline caregivers for candid conversations on the future of rural health care. Convened by Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, the event will feature Commonwealth Fund President Joseph R. Betancourt, M.D., in a virtual fireside chat on “Advancing Health Equity: The Role of the Health Care Workforce,” moderated by Thomas H. Lee, M.D., editor-in-chief of NEJM Catalyst.
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