News: June 27, 2011 Headlines

SHADAC Releases Report on Trends in Employer-Sponsored Coverage NHIS 2010 Coverage Estimates Released SHADAC and SHARE Presentations from AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting SHAP State Chartbooks Updated MACPAC Releases June Report to Congress New NASHP Publications for States Kaiser Releases Brief on New Income Determination Rules Edward Miller in JHPPL Iowa Releases Exchange Focus Group Report

News and Announcements

SHADAC Releases Report on Trends in EmployerSponsored Coverage
SHADAC released a new report "Trends in U.S. EmployerSponsored Health Insurance" examining trends in employersponsored insurance (ESI) at the state and national levels and the factors that influence ESI. Using SHADACs enhanced Current Population Survey estimates, researchers found that overall, 7.3 million people in the United States lost employersponsored insurance between 1999/2000 and 2008/2009, with 57% of this decline (about 4.1 million people) attributable to a decrease in dependent coverage. The report is accompanied by state-level summary tables of key ESI characteristics. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation hosted a June 21 webinar featuring SHADAC Deputy Director Julie Sonier, who presented findings from this report, and Linda Blumberg of the Urban Institute, who discussed their new report, "The Effects of Health Reform on Small Businesses and Their Workers." This analysis utilizes Urbans Health Insurance Policy Simulation Model to estimate insurance costs, offer rates, and coverage for small businesses.

Our highlighted blogs

HHS Changes PCIP Rules: Is Coverage Worth Waiting For? When is an "Exchange" an "Exchange"? When 133 Equals 138: FPL Calculations in the Affordable Care Act

NHIS 2010 Coverage Estimates Released

The National Center for Health Statistics has released 2010 health insurance coverage estimates, including state-level estimates for 20 states. "Health Insurance Coverage: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, 2010" provides national coverage estimates for select population groups, and uninsurance estimates for the 20 most populous

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states. Microdata from the 2010 NHIS are not yet released but is anticipated later this summer. SHADAC will announce when they are available.

SHADAC and SHARE Presentations from AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting

Presentations by SHADAC researchers Sharon Long, Michel Boudreaux and Jessie Pintor from the 2011 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting (ARM) are available for viewing. Presentations by SHARE grantees from the ARM are now available for viewing. SHARE was well-represented at the conference, with nine grantees presenting findings from their SHARE-sponsored research: Laura Spicer, Beth Kilbreth, Vince Mor, Allison Barrett, Ian Hill, Shana Alex Lavarreda, Michael Cousineau, Lindsey Leininger, and David Idala. Thanks to all of you for your hard work, and thanks also to Brian Quinn of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and to SHARE Deputy Director Elizabeth Lukanen for moderating the SHARE-themed panels.

SHAP State Chartbooks Updated

SHADAC has updated the chartbooks of health insurance coverage estimates for each HRSA State Health Access Program (SHAP) grantee states using estimates from the 2009 American Community Survey (ACS). The chartbooks include maps of uninsurance estimates; tables of health insurance coverage estimates with variance information; sub-state estimates of uninsurance; and demographic profiles of state populations. More information on the ACS is available from SHADAC's brief, "An Introduction to the American Community Survey Health Insurance Coverage Estimates."

MACPAC Releases June Report to Congress

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) released its June report to Congress, "The Evolution of Managed Care in Medicaid." This report examines managed care in Medicaid, focusing on the enrollees served, participating plans, spending, payment, access, data, and program accountability. The report notes that approximately 49 million Medicaid

enrollees receive care through some form of Medicaid managed care, with managed care accounting for 40 percent of all Medicaid spending on children and 21 percent of total Medicaid spending. This report builds upon the March 2011 Report on Medicaid and CHIP (available at the same link as the June report), which provided the foundation for a better understanding of the Medicaid and CHIP programs.

Reform Resources
New NASHP Publications for States
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) released two publications that provide state-specific resources. "Building Partnerships: State Officials and Advocates Working on Health Reform" highlights key lessons on building effective relationships between state officials and consumer advocates and ways in which these groups can work together as health care reform implementation proceeds at the state level. "Developing Federally Qualified Health Centers into Community Networks to Improve State Primary Care Delivery Systems" identifies states and FQHCs that are collaborating to build community networks to make medical home services available for vulnerable populations. This report features three such collaborations, which offer important lessons for states to consider as they work to improve their primary care delivery systems.

Kaiser Releases Brief on New Income Determination Rules

The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured release a policy brief, "Explaining Health Reform: The New Rules for Determining Income Under Medicaid in 2014." This brief provides an explanation of Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), which will be used in determining eligibility for premium credits under the Affordable Care Act.

News from SHARE Grantees

Edward Miller in JHPPL
SHARE grantee Edward Alan Miller of the University of Massachusetts Boston has published an article in the current issue of Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law. In the article, "Affordability of health insurance to small business: Implications of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," Dr. Miller discusses two key factors that will play a role in small-group coverage: tax credits for small employers and employee premium costs for small-group coverage through the exchanges.

News from the States

Iowa Releases Exchange Focus Group Report
An interagency workgroup comprised of the Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Insurance Division, Iowa Department of Human Services, and Iowa Department of Revenue, has released "Iowa Health Benefit Exchange Regional Meeting and Focus Group Summary." This report describes their research among stakeholders and consumers across the state to gain consumer buy-in and ensure a transparent planning process for development of the state's health benefit exchange.

Visit SHADAC's blog for regular updates and commentary

Read our latest blog posts Forward this email to a colleague Follow @shadac and @LynnBlewett on Twitter Invite your colleagues to stay up-to-date on SHADAC's resources by signing up for our e-mail list These updates include our bi-weekly newsletter; webinars on data, evaluation, and reporting related to Affordable Care Act implementation; and other resources pertinent to state health policy.

If you were forwarded this message and would like to subscribe to our email list, please visit our signup page at www.shadac.org/content/stay-updated. SHADAC is funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to help states monitor rates of health insurance coverage and to understand factors associated with uninsurance. Visit us online at www.shadac.org SHARE is a National Program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to fund, synthesize and disseminate evaluations of state health reform. SHARE operates out of SHADAC. For more information, visit SHARE's web site, www.statereformevaluation.org. Copyright (C) 2011 State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) All rights reserved.