Health Policy

Providing research, insight and analysis on key issues affecting health and health care in the United States.

Topic Areas, Two-Page Briefs & Fast Facts

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Featured: Helping Consumers Navigate Exchanges

Health insurance coverage will be available to purchase through insurance exchanges in every state starting on January 1, 2014, but will consumers know how to use them? The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health Reform Assistance Network (State Network) produces reports, toolkits, and other resources to help states develop effective outreach to help consumers navigate the process.

  • A brief by the National Association of State Health Policy (NASHP) lists valuable tools that state officials can use when determining how to meet the needs of new and current consumers.
  • A State Network brief offers resources and examples for Navigators and In-Person Assistors (IPAs) to use to help consumers use exchanges to purchase insurance.
  • A second State Network brief explores how Call Centers can be used as part of a broader strategy for optimizing people, processes, and technology to support the exchanges.

Will consumers know how to use health #insurance exchanges by Jan 1, 2014?

Featured Poll

Bipartisan Public Support Found for Creating State Insurance Exchanges

Of several potential policy priorities for the states, health insurance exchanges emerges as No. 1.

Selected Slides

Scroll through the slide deck to view key findings.

  1. It's the Top Priority
  2. Should Medicaid Be Expanded?
  3. Unity Across Party Lines
  4. States Should Expand Medicaid
  5. It's Personal
  6. Split Up the Middle
  7. How Well is Medicaid Working for You?
  8. The Great Divide
  9. The Wealthy Should Pay More
  10. The Biggest Threats to Health

A majority of Americans put the creation of state-based health insurance exchanges at the top of the priority list for health policy in their state this year, according to a survey released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health. In this comprehensive survey, researchers queried the public about their priorities for, and views on, a wide range of health and health policy issues that are currently preoccuping federal lawmakers.

Key Findings:

  • 55 percent of respondents, including majorities of Republicans and Democrats, say that establishing state insurance exchanges should be a “top priority” for their governor and legislature.
  • 52 percent support the expansion of Medicaid in their state. 
  • 58 percent oppose any spending cuts to Medicare and 46 percent oppose any cuts to Medicaid.
55%

of Americans say establishing state health insurance exchanges should be a top priority

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Health Affairs/RWJF Health Policy Brief Series

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Per Capita Caps in Medicaid

Medicaid is one of the largest, most expensive public health insurance programs in the United States and spending is expected to grow to $795 billion by 2021. This policy brief examines the issues surrounding per capita caps in Medicaid and explores other policy options for states and the federal government.

Read the brief
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The Multi-State Plan Program

In most states, insurance markets are highly concentrated with single insurers that can control the availability and price of health plans. To spur competition among plans, the ACA created the Multi-State Plan Program.

This policy brief explores the background of the Multi-State Plan Program, the challenges being faced in administering it, and the issues associated with offering insurance plans across state lines.

Read the brief

News Digest

RWJF Health Policy Alerts

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Navigating Health Reform Implementation

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Health Reform GPS

Sub-Regulatory Guidance Regarding Age Curves, Geographical Rating Areas and State Reporting

This brief summarizes the sub-regulatory guidance document regarding the February 27, 2013 final rule on health insurance premium ratings factors.

Navigators and Application Counseling and Assistance

This brief examines the proposed rule, published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to improve the ACA's Navigator provisions.

View all implementation briefs

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