Ramifications of Extending Additional Federal Medicaid Funding

July 2010

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act authorized a temporary increase in the funding sent to states for Medicaid, easing the burden on state budgets. A new policy brief from Health Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation examines the ramifications of extending this increase. Without the extension, states may have to take drastic measures to balance state budgets. Proponents of the extension say it is essential to support the safety net, while others argue the extension should only be approved if the additional federal spending is fully offset by federal budget cuts or increased federal revenues.

Oral Health Checkup: Progress in Tough Fiscal Times?

April 2010

Almost 10 years after the Surgeon General's report designating dental disease as the "silent epidemic," the nation continues to struggle with adequate access to and utilization of dental services. This is particularly true for low-income individuals, who experience more than twice the amount of untreated dental disease as their higher-income peers. An issue brief, from the National Health Policy Forum, reviews sources of dental coverage for low-income children and adults and the challenges these programs face. It highlights some examples of state Medicaid initiatives to improve access and utilization for children and the progress of these initiatives. Finally, it examines the potential effects of the economy on dental coverage for low-income populations.

New Commonwealth Fund Report Presents Survey Results About Healthcare Experts' Views on Recently Passed Health Reform Legislation

April 2010

A new report from The Commonwealth Fund, Health care Opinion Leaders’ Views on Health Reform, Implementation, and Post-Reform Priorities, presents survey results about health care experts' views on the comprehensive health reform law enacted in March 2010, including premium subsidies, new insurance market rules, and alternative payment methods; implementation challenges; and long-term issues.

The report can be found by clicking here.

Health Reform Messages for the Small Business Community [ July 13, 2010 4:00 PM ]

In the coming weeks, Grantmakers In Health will be scheduling small group conference calls for funders who are interested in talking to each other about specific issues related to health reform. The first of these calls will take place tomorrow, on the topic of developing, coordinating, and disseminating messages on health reform for the small business community. The discussion will be led by Kate Gervais of the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut.

Health Care Reform: What's in the Law and What's Philanthropy's Role as it is Implemented? [ April 13, 2010 2:00 PM ]

GIH Access to Care Audioconference Series

Now that health care reform has been signed into law, funders are eagerly trying to understand what’s in the law and its implications for their communities, their grantees, their states, and their own work. Len Nichols will explain the key provisions of the new law, the immediate and longer-term challenges in its implementation, and the pivotal roles foundations can play in educating the public, continued advocacy, and supporting state implementation efforts.

Kids' Access Funders Network: Health Reform [ March 29, 2010 2:30 PM ]

On this call of the Kids' Access Funders Network, Jocelyn Guyer of the Georgetown Center for Children and Families updated funders on the provisions of the health reform law that will have the most impact on children and families, Ed Walz of Spitfire Strategies discussed post-reform messages that funders and their grantees might use.

Increasing Access to Dental Care through the Use of New Midlevel Providers [ January 28, 2010 2:00 PM ]

GIH Access to Care Audioconference Series

Underserved populations in the United States frequently lack access to dental care and experience higher rates of oral disease and unmet oral health needs. To help fill these gaps in care and reduce disparities, new models to train midlevel dental providers are being developed. On this call, Dr. Burton L. Edelstein discussed his recent report Training New Dental Health Providers in the U.S. (funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation). Interest in this area is growing and both state and federal governments have taken steps to support such providers, but plenty of work remains. Next, Dr. Albert K. Yee provided an update on the Dental Health Aide Therapist program run by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. This program has successfully increased access to dental care for Alaska Natives who are often isolated in rural villages and lack local dentists.  

Consumer Engagement in Reform Implementation: A Roadmap for Funders and Advocates [ December 14, 2009 1:00 PM ]

State-based consumer advocates play an increasingly critical role in making the health care system work well for consumers-- especially for vulnerable populations. This role will become more important following passage of national health reform. Community Catalyst is completing a Public Welfare Foundation-funded report about the value and impact of consumer engagement in reform implementation, lessons learned from prior implementations, and a roadmap for advocates on the work ahead. On this one-hour call, Community Catalyst presented the framework they developed for the report and two state consumer advocates shared their reflections and prognostications. 

Implementing Health Care Reform: What Help Would States Need? [ August 26, 2009 1:00 PM ]

Health funders are growing increasingly interested in how to help states implement federal health care reform, should it succeed in some form or another. On this one-hour audioconference grantmakers heard from NASHP and NGA about the capacity and expertise states would need to prepare for successful implementation of national health care reform. We also heard from funders in Maine and Massachusetts about how their funding strategies changed after reform legislation was enacted in their states.  

Federal Stimulus Funds for HIT in Health Centers: Opportunities and Challenges for Funders [ July 16, 2009 1:00 PM ]

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) invests heavily in health information technology as critical a tool for improving the health and health care of Americans. This audioconference call will provide an overview of how ARRA funds will flow through various agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

CHIP Reauthorization: Details and Implications [ February 13, 2009 2:00 PM ]

On February 4, President Obama signed into law H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) reauthorization bill that will result in over 4 million otherwise uninsured children receiving health coverage. On this audioconference, grantmakers participated in a discussion of the GIH Funders Network on Expanding Access for Kids, an informal collaborative of foundations supporting work related to children’s coverage and care. Cindy Mann of the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University reviewed the details of the legislation and discussed the implications for states and funders.

Philanthropy's Role in Health Care Reform [ January 22, 2009 12:00 PM ]

On this audioconference, funders heard the highlights of a new report that traces the complex history of health care reform efforts in Massachusetts, focusing on the significant roles that philanthropy played as the political landscape evolved and new strategies and alliances emerged. Special attention was paid to lessons for foundations across the country about affecting health care reform at the state and national levels.

Read About Our Audioconference Series on Access to Care

Grantmakers In Health hosts an audioconference series for grantmakers interested in improving access to health care and expanding health insurance coverage. 

Paid Sick Days: A Health Policy for Everyone

By Anna Wadia, Program Officer, Ford Foundation; Beadsie Woo, Senior Associate, The Annie E. Casey Foundation; and Shanna Shulman, Director of Policy and Research, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation

Health and Justice: Health Care for People Involved in the Justice System

Health funders have found that focusing on people entering, in, or emerging from the criminal and juvenile justice systems increases the likelihood of connecting with vulnerable populations that are hard to pull into traditional health interventions.

Health Reform: Time for a Paradigm Shift

By: Brenda L. Henry, Ph.D., M.P.H, Program Officer, and Pamela G. Russo, M.D., M.P.H., Senior Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Cost of Chronic Disease

Health care costs are a major concern in the current political debate around health care reform. In 2007 the United States spent $2.24 trillion (15.2 percent of gross domestic product) on health care. Studies have shown that 75 percent of the rise in health care spending is due to the rise in prevalence of treated chronic disease.

CHIP Reauthorization: Details and Implications

This Issue Focus article summarizes a February 2009 Grantmakers In Health audioconference, which discussed the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 and featured Cindy Mann, executive director of the Center for Children and Families at the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute.

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Policy Options to Expand Health Insurance Coverage

As health reform emerges as a major issue on state and national agendas, funders are looking for ways to educate themselves and others about the various proposals to extend health insurance to people without coverage.  What are the policy options?  How are they structured?  How much would they cost?  What can we learn from recent state initiatives?  What kinds of trade-offs do we make when we support one proposal over another?  In response to these questions, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) brought together a panel of policy experts to help funders understand the complex nature of policy options to expand health insurance coverage and the trade-offs related to each.  View the archived Webcast.