On June 21, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report, suggesting that federal and state governments review and revise public health laws to ensure that they adequately address the current health care landscape.  Created at the request of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and presenting the findings of a committee of experts, the report also stresses the importance of evaluating the effects of non-health care legislation, noting that such legislation can have a significant impact on public health.  Finally, the report recommends that states require health agencies to require 10 essential public health services.

From the report:

On July 28, the Pew Center on the States’ non-partisan non-profit news service Stateline released a primer on Medicaid financing, exploring the changes offered under the Obama Administration’s plan to “blend” rates for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  Offered as an alternative to the GOP budget plan that passed in the U.S. House on April 15, rather than convert Medicaid into a block grant program, President Obama’s proposal would blend the CHIP rate, the existing Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid, and the rate set to apply to newly covered Medicaid enrollees under health reform’s 2014 expansion.  Though the Administration has yet to release details of the blending plan, the primer examines the impact of potential rate blending on states as well as initial reactions from state lawmakers.

From the report:

To states, the most significant part of Obama’s plan is a change in a few key funding formulas that determine how many federal dollars states get for Medicaid. Obama’s so-called “blended rate” would simplify the way federal money is divvied among the states. But it also would shift a greater share of Medicaid spending to the states —which has riled numerous governors and nearly everyone in the health care community. How would the blended rate proposal change Medicaid? Here’s a primer on the way Medicaid is currently financed, and the possible impacts of the administration’s plan.

Full report: Medicaid Explained: How a 'Blended Rate' Would Work

Stateline. (2011). Medicaid explained: how a 'blended rate' would work. Vestal, Christine.

On June 21, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report, suggesting that federal and state governments review and revise public health laws to ensure that they adequately address the current health care landscape.  Created at the request of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and presenting the findings of a committee of experts, the report also stresses the importance of evaluating the effects of non-health care legislation, noting that such legislation can have a significant impact on public health.  Finally, the report recommends that states require health agencies to require 10 essential public health services

From the report:

Good health is not merely the result of good medical care but the result of what we do as a society to create the conditions in which people can be healthy. Public policy can be one of the most effective approaches to protecting and improving the health of the population. Unlike the one-on-one care provided by clinicians, laws, regulations, and other policies can affect the health of millions. This makes “healthy” public policy particularly important in a time of scarce resources, because it can diminish or preclude the need for other, more costly and potentially less efficient interventions.

Full Report: For the Public’s Health: Revitalizing Law and Policy to Meet New Challenges (PDF | 433 KB)

Institute of Medicine. (2011). For the public's health: revitalizing law and policy to meet new challenges.

Many states continue to experience the aftermath of the recession, dealing with continued budget deficit problems. Additionally, in June 2011, state budgets will have to account for the expiration of the enhanced federal matching funds for Medicaid that were allowed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. States are also beginning to implement the Affordable Care Act, putting additional strain on state budgets. This report form the Kaiser Family Foundation discusses the impact that these issues are having on the state's Medicaid budgets.

From the report:

Fiscal stress remains a dominant concern for states as they cope with lingering effects of the recession. Many states are facing budget shortfalls and revenues remain depressed half-way through FY 2011. States, many with new governors and legislators, are preparing budgets for FY 2012, anticipating a slow economic recovery and expiration of temporary, enhanced federal Medicaid matching funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on June 30, 2011. At the same time, states are moving forward with implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Even in these challenging times, Medicaid continues to play a vital role in supporting providers, ensuring access to long-term care services and providing coverage to many low-income individuals who would otherwise be uninsured. This report, based on structured discussions with leading Medicaid directors, augments the findings from the most recent comprehensive Medicaid budget survey published in September 2010 to provide a mid-year 2011 update on state Medicaid issues.

Full Report: Waiting for Economic Recovery, Poised for Health Care Reform: A Mid-Year Update for FY 2011 - Looking Forward to FY 2012 (PDF | 364 KB)

Kaiser Family Foundation. (2011). Waiting for economic recovery, poised for health care reform: a mid-year update for FY 2011- looking forward to FY 2012.

This article, originally published in The Economist's Voice, explores the challenges that the Affordable Care Act faces throughout implementation, discussing the judicial and legislative challenges and the possibility of the bill being overturned. It also discusses the challenge with the actual implementation including the role and additional challenges of the state governments.

Aaron, H. (2010). Systemic reform of health care delivery and payment. The Economist's Voice, 7(5) doi: 10.2202/1553-3832.1823. http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol7/iss5/art5.

Author: Aaron, Henry J.

This report from the Brookings Institution explore the District of Columbia's change in policy from providing healthcare services to paying for services from private insurers.

From the report: