HCFO News

HCFO Deputy Director and AcademyHealth Vice President of Strategic Planning and Business Development, Bonnie Austin, J.D., was selected as a new member of the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI). Ms. Austin was selected in recognition of her work to improve the quality of research, policymaking, and financing of social insurance systems such as Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and related social assistance and private employee benefits.

A HCFO Findings Brief, The Individual and Program Impacts of Eliminating Medicaid Dental Benefits in the Oregon Health Plan, was highlighted in the September 19, 2011 newsletter (page 3) of the State Health Access Data Center (SHADAC) and the State Health Access Reform Evaluation (SHARE) Program.

A HCFO Brief, Considerations Related to Pricing Individual and Small Group Insurance Under Health Reform, was highlighted in the July 25, 2011 newsletter (page 2) of the State Health Access Data Center (SHADAC) and the State Health Access Reform Evaluation (SHARE).

A HCFO Issue Brief, "Considerations Related to Pricing Indvidual and Small Group Health Insurance under Health Reform," was recently featured on the website of Health Reform Source, an initiative of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Health Reform Source is an online gateway explaining, analyzing, and tracking the implentation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

This spring, HCFO launched a new online grant application system. The new system is now live and you may begin to submit applications. More information can be found here. 

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has launched a newsletter, Evidence Matters, from the Research and Evaluation Program. In the first issue, David Colby mentions the Changes in Health Care Financing and Organization (HCFO) program as one of the research initiatives that has guided RWJF’s strategy and investments over the years. To view the first issue of Evidence Matters, visit http://www.rwjf.org/pr/renewsletterlist.jsp.

The HCFO brief "Recognizing Destabilization in the Individual Health Insurance Market" was cited in the November 12 Health Affairs Health Policy Brief: "Medical Loss Ratios." The HCFO brief discusses the medical loss ratio standard in the individual insurance market and provisions within The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) for addressin

The HCFO brief “Financing End-of-Life Care: Challenges for an Aging Population” was cited in a chapter on Medicare in the Alliance for Health Reform’s Covering Health Issues . This brief explores key themes associated with end-of-life care and highlights the need for future research.

Looking for resources on health care financing and organization? Follow the HCFO Program on Twitter for the latest information on research findings, upcoming funding opportunities, and updates on HCFO grantees. Follow HCFO at http://twitter.com/hcfo.

Findings from a HCFO study led by Michael Chernew, Ph.D., professor at Harvard Medical School, were highlighted in the February 19 Business Journal of Milwaukee article, “Study Finds Competition Actually Lowers Health Care Costs.” In his HCFO-sponsored study, Chernew examined the factors related to variations in cost growth in the Medicare and commercial sectors.