Supporting State Policymakers’ Implementation of Federal Health Reform
States will have enormous short-term and long-term needs for assistance as they grapple with federal health reform legislation. Significant federal and private resources to support state-level implementation will be necessary. Implementation support must be defined and coordinated quickly. Technical assistance must be provided in a manner that corresponds with state needs. State officials should be involved in the design of technical assistance so that it is most effective given varied state circumstances, needs, and capacities.
State Policymakers’ Priorities for Improving the Health System
This State Health Policy Briefing presents the issues identified by NASHP’s state leadership as their most significant priorities for improving their health systems. As Academy members discussed their priorities, a set of broader themes emerged.
A State Policymakers’ Guide to Federal Health Reform - Part I: Anticipating How Federal Health Reform will Affect State Roles
Many critical aspects of federal health reform will be implemented by the states. Through program design, regulations, policies and practices, state decisions and actions already play a profound role in shaping the American health care system. Both the House and Senate reform proposals would dramatically change the federal structure within which state health policy operates. Part I of this State Policymakers’ Guide provides a high-level view of existing state roles in the health care system and how federal reform will affect those roles.
State Strategies and Lessons Learned in Working Toward Coverage for all Children
This report, published in October 2008, examines three states – Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oregon – to learn firsthand from state leaders, program administrators, policy makers, advocates, and community groups about the history, process, strategies, and lessons learned in advancing children’s coverage initiatives. While each state has a unique approach to advancing children’s coverage initiatives, several key themes and strategies emerged from discussions with state leaders.
State Health Policies Aimed at Promoting Excellent Systems: A Report on States’ Roles in Health Systems Performance
This report presents findings from the State Health Policies Aimed at Promoting Excellent Systems (SHAPES) project undertaken by the National Academy for State Health Policy with support from The Commonwealth Fund.
Reauthorizing SCHIP: Principles, Issues and Ideas from State Directors
This April 2007 Issue Brief describes the current views of SCHIP directors on key issues being considered in the reauthorization process. While it does not capture all of the views of all of the states on all issues relevant to reauthorization, it represents the views of most states on issues of priority concern to them.
SCHIP at 10: Progress and Results
This fact sheet briefly explores some of the choices states have made in program design over the past ten years, the success achieved in enrollment and helping to reduce the uninsured, and the improved results in access to care and health outcomes for children with SCHIP coverage.
Health Reform in Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont: An Examination of State Strategies to Improve Access to Affordable, Quality Care
This issue brief was prepared by NASHP for the Maine Health Access Foundation to examine the progress of health reform in Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont and to compare these three states’ efforts. The brief was developed and written by Neva Kaye and Andrew Snyder.
The brief includes information on:
ERISA Implications for State Health Care Access Initiatives: Impact of the Maryland “Fair Share Act” Court Decision
This paper from State Coverage Initiatives and NASHP explores the implications for state health care access initiatives of the federal court decision finding that ERISA preempt’s Maryland’s “Fair Share Act.” ERISA Implications for State Health Care Access Initiatives: Impact of the Maryland “Fair Share Act” Court Decision discusses in detail:
Basic Facts About Children’s Health Coverage
Published in May 2006, this fact sheet provides some basic information about how children are covered today, how many children are uninsured and who they are, and the cost of children’s coverage.
