State Health Reform Initiatives: Are There Lessons for Federal Policymakers?

Polls consistently show that addressing problems in our health care system remains a top concern for most Americans. But while major health care reform efforts have stalled in Washington, many states are attempting to address the rising number of uninsured on their own. This briefing focused on such efforts in three states – Massachusetts, Vermont and Utah.

What were the policy and political climates that allowed state reform efforts to go forward? What can other states learn from current state activity? Can coverage and quality be improved while curbing health care costs? Does the federal government have a role and, if so, what can policymakers do to best encourage state reform?

To discuss these and related questions, The Commonwealth Fund and the Alliance for Health Reform sponsored a November 20 briefing. Panelists were: Amy Lischko, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services; Jim Leddy, state senator, Vermont; Norm Thurston, research consultant and health economist, Utah Department of Health; and Alice Burton, AcademyHealth, State Coverage Initiatives. Ed Howard of the Alliance and Anne Gauthier of Commonwealth moderated.

Transcript

Full Transcript (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Speaker Presentations

Lischko’s Presentation (PowerPoint)
Leddy’s Presentation (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Thurston’s Presentation (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Burton’s Presentation (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Gauthier’s Presentation (Adobe Acrobat PDF)