The Connection
A roundup of recent Fund publications, charts, multimedia, and other timely content.
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July 15, 2024
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Keeping Medicaid Beneficiaries Continuously Enrolled
During the pandemic, Congress suspended Medicaid renewals so people wouldn’t have to worry about losing their coverage. But since states resumed processing renewals, “enrollment churn” has rebounded, with many eligible adults losing their coverage only to regain it later. On To the Point, George Washington University’s MaryBeth Musumeci says that while new federal regulations should reduce Medicaid churn, ensuring continuous eligibility for a year or more would further stabilize coverage and limit administrative costs.
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How Health Plans Can Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Because of their enormous financial and policy influence, U.S. health insurers can play a major role in reducing the health care sector’s substantial greenhouse gas emissions. Bryan Buckley of the National Committee for Quality Assurance and colleagues discuss opportunities health plans have to create financial incentives for providers to reduce their carbon footprint, develop coverage policies that favor treatments with low environmental impact, and promote primary care and prevention.
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FEATURED CHART
Courts Delay New Regulations Targeting Discrimination
New federal regulations expanding the Affordable Care Act’s ban on discrimination in health coverage and care are currently in limbo, pending the outcome of litigation. As MaryBeth Musumeci explains, the new rules are intended to reinstate gender identity protections reversed during the Trump administration, prohibitions against discriminatory behaviors by health insurers, and access for people with limited English proficiency, among other things. But she says it’s unclear when — or even whether — these new rules will take effect, as three federal courts put various provisions on hold just before their effective date.
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QUIZ
Across the world, women and girls do the bulk of caregiving. This includes what percentage of unpaid caregiving?
- 50 percent
- 65 percent
- 75 percent
- 90 percent
Scroll down to see if you got it right.
Webinar: Fellowship in Health Equity Leadership
The Pozen-Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Health Equity Leadership is a 22-month, degree-granting program at the Yale School of Management that gives health care professionals the leadership skills and the deep understanding of teams, markets, and organizations necessary to tackle major inequities in the U.S. health care system. Join a webinar on Monday, July 22, 2024, at 12 p.m. ET, to hear fellowship director Marcella Nunez-Smith, M.D., cofounder Howard Forman, M.D., and former fellow Steven Starks, M.D. (class of 2023) discuss the fellowship and the opportunities if offers. Participants will have the chance to ask questions of the panel.
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Using AI to Reduce Clinician Burnout
The New York Times recently reported on how clinicians are leveraging artificial intelligence ([link removed] ) to craft prior authorization requests for insurers. Not only has the practice led to higher approval rates for patients, it’s reduced the time providers have to spend on burdensome administrative tasks. Transforming Care highlighted additional strategies health systems are pursuing to address the drivers of clinician burnout ([link removed] ) .
QUIZ: Answer
The answer is C, 75 percent of unpaid caregiving work is performed by women and girls.
Female caregivers often put their careers and relationships on hold at the expense of their own well-being. While the U.S. currently has no comprehensive federal policy or infrastructure for informal caregivers, the city of Bogotá, Colombia, has come up with an innovative program to support their invaluable work. In the latest issue of International Insights, the Commonwealth Fund’s Munira Gunja describes Bogotá’s CARE System ([link removed] ) , a program that U.S. policymakers could take inspiration from.
Remembering Health Care Leader Jim Tallon
The Commonwealth Fund’s staff and board of directors mourn the passing of James R. Tallon, a longtime board member and chair and a passionate health care leader in New York and across the country for more than five decades. Jim joined the Fund’s board in 1996 and served as chair from 2007 to 2014. During 19 years of service in the New York State Assembly — six as majority leader — and more than two decades as president of the United Hospital Fund, Jim was an important voice for health care access, equity, and quality. He was also a valued colleague, counselor, and friend. We will miss Jim’s wisdom and compassion, and we offer our deepest sympathies to his wife Norma and sons Ed, James, and Michael.
Affordable, quality health care. For everyone.
The Commonwealth Fund, 1 East 75th Street, New York, NY 10021
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