Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG)tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-780941762422105712013-02-06T15:02:22-08:00We're a 30-year old 501c3 nonprofit that operates as an independent, freestanding center driven by a singular mission: formulating health policy, advocacy and health systems to enhance the health of the public. TypePadtypepad/wtJQhttp://feedburner.google.comHMPRG Forum on Community Health Workers Featured in Crain's Chicago Businesstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0115723d505a970b017c36a63ee2970b2013-02-06T15:02:22-08:002013-02-06T15:02:22-08:00HMPRG's Janna Simon was quoted in a Crain's Chicago Business article on the January 25th forum on community health workers. Janna and HMPRG board member Joe Zanoni are featured in the slide show of photographs from the event accompanying the article.Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG)http://hmprg.typepad.com/health-medicine-hmprg/2013/02/hmprg-forum-on-community-health-workers-featured-in-crains-chicago-business.htmlHMPRG’s Kristen Pavle contributes to ASA Journal article on The Bridge Modeltag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0115723d505a970b017ee840506f970d2013-02-05T11:00:59-08:002013-02-05T11:00:59-08:00HMPRG’s Kristen Pavle co-wrote an article with colleagues from the Illinois Transitional Care Consortium (ITCC) on the Bridge Model of transitional care for the American Society on Aging’s journal Generations. To check out the article please click here. HMPRG has been involved with Bridge since 2008, playing a leadership role with ITCC’s Program Management Team. HMPRG’s work has facilitated ongoing Bridge Model improvement and implementation at sites across Illinois and the country. For more information on ITCC and Bridge, visit the ITCC website at www.transitionalcare.org, or contact Bonnie Ewald, BEwald@hmprg.org or 312.372.4292 x 31, Program Coordinator at HMPRG.Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG)http://hmprg.typepad.com/health-medicine-hmprg/2013/02/hmprgs-kristen-pavle-contributes-to-asa-journal-article-on-the-bridge-model.htmlHMPRG's Janna Simon (Stansell) Quoted in AP Article on Uninsured Patients Suing Swedish Covenant Hospitaltag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0115723d505a970b017d3e4a582f970c2012-11-29T12:43:35-08:002012-11-29T12:43:35-08:00Download article CHICAGO (AP) — A lawsuit filed Thursday claims a nonprofit hospital in northwest Chicago failed to provide charity care to two low-income, uninsured patients, reopening a longstanding controversy in Illinois over whether hospitals are doing enough charitable work to qualify for lucrative tax exemptions. Swedish Covenant Hospital repeatedly lost one patient's financial assistance application and threatened to send her bill to a collection agency, according to the lawsuit. The hospital incorrectly told another patient she was ineligible for assistance and demanded cash from her, the complaint alleges. The practices amount to "bureaucratic barriers" that prevent eligible patients from...Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG)http://hmprg.typepad.com/health-medicine-hmprg/2012/11/hmprgs-janna-simon-stansell-quoted-in-ap-article-on-uninsured-patients-suing-swedish-covenant-hospit.htmlUpdate: Illinois’ Care Coordination and Managed Care System tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0115723d505a970b017ee53b965e970d2012-11-16T11:58:28-08:002012-11-16T12:03:23-08:00The following is a blog originally posted on IllinoisHealthMatters.org by Kristen Pavle, Associate Director of the Center for Long-Term Care Reform at Health & Medicine Policy Research Group. In January 2011, the Illinois legislature passed a bill that requires 50% of the State’s Medicaid population to be covered in a risk-based care coordination program by 2015. Subsequently, in May 2012, the State Legislature passed the SMART Act, cutting Medicaid services and projecting cost savings through various care coordination initiatives. The care coordination, or managed care, initiatives referenced through this bill are: the Integrated Care Program, the Dual Eligibles Capitation Demonstration...Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG)http://hmprg.typepad.com/health-medicine-hmprg/2012/11/updateillinois-care-coordination-and-managed-care-system-.htmlIllinois Health Matters Blog Post by Margie Schaps, Executive Director, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0115723d505a970b017ee4e55a20970d2012-11-09T04:20:01-08:002012-11-09T04:21:23-08:00The Cook County Health & Hospitals System (CCHHS) 1115 Medicaid Waiver—what is CountyCare? Last month the Cook County Health & Hospitals System received word from the Federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare that their request for an 1115 Waiver to the Illinois Medicaid system had been conditionally approved, pending the State of Illinois officially accepting the “terms and conditions” of the Waiver. So, as of right now, the expectation is that the State will make this official within the next couple of weeks. CountyCare, as the new Medicaid program will be known, has been provided for through the Affordable Care...Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG)http://hmprg.typepad.com/health-medicine-hmprg/2012/11/illinois-health-matters-.htmlCountyCare (State of IL 1115 Waiver)tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0115723d505a970b017ee4d88d67970d2012-11-07T11:38:53-08:002012-11-07T11:39:07-08:00“The State of Illinois and Cook County Health & Hospitals System will be operating a new Medicaid program for uninsured adults in Cook County called CountyCare. This is a Medicaid program through the Affordable Care Act (Healthcare Reform). CountyCare will provide coverage for tens of thousands of currently uninsured patients, as CCHHS transforms into a patient-centered continuum of care. This transformation is changing the way that patients enter CCHHS, as they will be assigned intelligently (based on risk, complexity and need) to patient-centered medical homes instead of relying on the emergency department for basic services while waiting for new appointment...Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG)http://hmprg.typepad.com/health-medicine-hmprg/2012/11/countycare-state-of-il-1115-waiver.htmlNew Medicare Policy: Beneficiary No Longer Must "Improve", Now "Maintaining" Condition is Acceptabletag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0115723d505a970b017ee4c77fed970d2012-11-05T13:40:41-08:002012-11-05T13:40:41-08:00For decades Medicare beneficiaries with long-term needs due to chronic conditions and debilitating conditions were denied care based on the "Improvement Standard." Care was only approved to those whose conditions improved; care was not approved to maintain current functioning levels. As a result of the "Improvement Standard" case, Jimmo v. Sebelius, new policy provisions will state that skilled nursing and therapy services necessary to maintain a person's condition can be covered by Medicare. Thousands of Medicare beneficiaries stand to benefit from access to services to help them maintain their current condition--many will receive help in the community-based setting. As baby...Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG)http://hmprg.typepad.com/health-medicine-hmprg/2012/11/new-medicare-policy-beneficiary-no-longer-must-improve-now-maintaining-condition-is-acceptable.htmlMedicaid Primary Care to be Reimbursed at Medicare Ratestag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0115723d505a970b017c3323701e970b2012-11-05T13:35:38-08:002012-11-05T13:35:38-08:00"Health care law delivers higher payments to primary care physicians" Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the final rule implementing the part of the health care law that delivers higher payments to primary care physicians serving Medicaid beneficiaries. The new rule raises rates to ensure doctors are paid the same for treating Medicare and Medicaid patients and does not raise costs for states. “The health care law will help physicians serve millions of Americans across the country,” Secretary Sebelius said. “By improving payments for primary care services, we are helping Medicaid patients get the care they...Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG)http://hmprg.typepad.com/health-medicine-hmprg/2012/11/medicaid-primary-care-to-be-reimbursed-at-medicare-rates.htmlCheck Out Our Recent Presentation on Medicaid & Medicare "Dual Eligibles"tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0115723d505a970b017d3cce96c4970c2012-10-18T14:11:12-07:002012-10-18T14:11:12-07:00On Wednesday, October 17th, Kristen Pavle, Associate Director of the Center for Long-Term Care Reform at HMPRG, and Gayle Shier, Program Coordinator at Health & Aging at Rush University Medical Center gave a riveting presentation to The Chicago Bridge, an emerging aging professionals group. The presentation topic was on Medicare and Medicaid dually eligible beneficiaries and current policy changes in Illinois for this population. Click Here to View the Presentation Matierials.Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG)http://hmprg.typepad.com/health-medicine-hmprg/2012/10/check-out-our-recent-presentation-on-medicaid-medicare-dual-eligibles.htmlSafe Moving and Lifting in Healthcare Conference - November 15thtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0115723d505a970b017ee435c269970d2012-10-16T12:45:31-07:002012-10-16T12:45:49-07:00Conference Overview This conference will provide strategies and resources to design and sustain safe lifting programs in acute care, long term care, community and home care settings. Participants will: • Discover why and how safe lifting and moving programs are cost-effective in reducing injuries • Find successful, proven approaches for safe lifting and moving programs • Share their profession’s role and expertise in safe lifting and moving • Heighten their awareness of consumers’ perspectives, rights and strategies for safe moving • Get hands-on experience evaluating equipment to resolve challenging situations • Learn about the amended Illinois law on safe lifting...Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG)http://hmprg.typepad.com/health-medicine-hmprg/2012/10/safe-moving-and-lifting-in-healthcare-conference-november-15.html