The Connection
A roundup of recent Fund publications, charts, multimedia, and other timely content.
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April 9, 2024
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Is There an Alternative to Public Option Health Plans?
State “public option” health plans aim to use savings from lower provider payment rates to make premiums more affordable, expand benefits, and lower overall health care costs. But their success to date has been mixed. In a Commonwealth Fund issue brief, researchers Naomi Zewde, Coleman Drake, and Adam Biener say Basic Health Programs, or BHPs, may offer an alternative for states. Authorized by the Affordable Care Act, BHPs contract with safety-net providers to cover households with incomes between 138 percent and 200 percent of poverty.
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Medicaid Work Requirements, Explained
For most of the Medicaid program’s history, eligibility hasn’t been tied to employment status. This changed under the Trump administration, which allowed 11 states to implement work-based conditions to access Medicaid. While the Biden administration rescinded all approvals, several states have signaled their intention to continue championing work requirements. In a Commonwealth Fund explainer, Akeiisa Coleman and Sara Federman describe the history and impact of Medicaid work requirements.
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FEATURED CHART
The State of Primary Care Around the World
Decades of evidence show that primary care is critical for population health, health equity, and the overall efficiency of health care systems. But many nations, including the United States, face challenges in delivering and sustaining high-quality primary care. In a data brief, Commonwealth Fund researchers assess the state of primary care in the U.S. and nine other countries from the patient and provider perspectives, looking at such measures as use of telehealth, preparedness to treat behavioral health conditions, care coordination, and more.
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QUIZ
Many people who were enrolled in Medicaid under the federal continuous coverage program during COVID-19 did not realize WHAT about their coverage post-pandemic?
- They were still covered.
- They had become unenrolled.
- Their eligibility for coverage now included work requirements.
- None of the above.
Scroll down to see if you got it right.
States Invest Much-Needed Resources in Primary Care
The United States has underinvested in primary care for decades, spending half of what other high-income countries spend as a share of total health care dollars. This lack of investment contributes to workforce shortages, limits access to providers, and contributes to worse health outcomes. On To the Point, Jordan Goldberg, Corinne Lewis, and colleagues share insights from policymakers in 25 states who are working to boost investment in primary care. To start, they say defining what constitutes primary care is essential.
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Task Force on the Future of Employer-Based Insurance
Half the U.S. population rely on employer health plans for their insurance coverage, but high out-of-pocket costs deter many workers from using their plan to get care. The new Commonwealth Fund National Task Force on the Future Role of Employers in the U.S. Health System will examine the changes needed to improve American workers’ access to timely, affordable health care. The nonpartisan group aims to develop a blueprint for addressing the challenges faced by employers and their employees through market incentives, regulatory changes, and other options with the potential to enhance health coverage in the workplace; ensuring equitable access to affordable care; and improving population health and care delivery.
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Redesigned Care for LGBTQ Patients
A recent survey by KFF found that LGBT adults were twice as likely to report negative experiences receiving health care in the previous three years than non-LGBT adults (33% vs. 15%). Six of 10 LGBT respondents said they prepare for insults from health care providers or feel they need to be careful about their appearance to be treated fairly when seeking care. Transforming Care described how one Midwestern health system redesigned care to make LGBTQ patients feel more welcome ([link removed] ) .
QUIZ: Answer
The answer is B, They had become unenrolled.
Read more about continuous Medicaid coverage during the pandemic, as well as how many Medicaid beneficiaries lost coverage since the “unwinding,” in a new JAMA Health Forum article ([link removed] ) .
Affordable, quality health care. For everyone.
The Commonwealth Fund, 1 East 75th Street, New York, NY 10021
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