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On September 17, 2005 Kaiser hosted a symposium on “Key Policy Issues Affecting Frontline Providers” at the in Atlanta, Georgia (Sept. 15-18, 2005).
Presentation: What’s Coming Down the Pike? Preparing for Federal and State Policy Changes That Stand to Affect You and Your Patients (.pdf)
To give voice to people whose lives have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing floods, The Washington Post, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health conducted a unique survey of evacuees in shelters in the Houston area. The provides information on evacuees’ lives before the hurricane and inside Houston area shelters, as well as their plans for the future. The survey also includes a number of health-related questions, including information on health insurance status, chronic health conditions, prescription drugs, and injuries from the hurricane and resulting flood.
The is based on sample of 680 randomly selected adults ages 18 years and older, staying in the Houston Reliant Park Complex (which included the Reliant Astrodome and the Reliant Center), the George R. Brown Convention Center, and five smaller Red Cross shelters in the greater Houston area. Interviews were conducted face-to-face September 10-12, 2005. The survey was conducted and analyzed jointly by The Washington Post, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health. Interviews were conducted by 28 professional, Houston-based interviewers under the supervision of staff from Kaiser and ICR/International Communications Research, and with input from The Post staff in Houston. The Red Cross gave The Post/Kaiser/Harvard interviewing team permission to interview at the various centers, but was not a co-sponsor of the survey and bears no responsibility for results presented here.
Toplines and Methodology (.pdf)
Free access to the American Journal of Public Health article on survey findings .
This update on Medicaid enrollment in 50 states demonstrates that in June 2004, a total of 41.3 million persons were enrolled in Medicaid, an increase of 1.6 million or 4.1 percent from June 2003. Medicaid enrollment nationally has increased at every six-month interval since December 1998.
Report (.pdf)
This issue paper is an effort to begin an assessment of health care needs in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and to review some of the policy options available to the federal government to ensure access to health care for those affected by Katrina. The brief begins with a summary of the implications for the health of the population and its access to needed care. It then outlines the implications for affected states – those directly hit by Katrina as well as the states of refuge – and for health care coverage in those states. Finally the brief looks at two ways in which the federal government could respond.
Policy Brief (.pdf)
This update shows that enrollment in SCHIP grew by 25,000 to 3,950,000 in 2004, reversing a four quarter decline in enrollment since June 2003, but still slightly below the program’s enrollment peak.
Report (.pdf)
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)http://www.hhs.gov/katrina/index.html
HHS Resources Targeting Minority Communitieshttp://www.os.dhhs.gov/news/press/2005pres/20050930a.html
Congressional Hearings and Resources:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)http://www.cms.hhs.gov/katrina/
Social Security Administration (SSA)http://www.ssa.gov/emergency/
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)http://www.fema.gov/
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)http://www.fns.usda.gov/disasters/disaster.htm
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)http://www.hud.gov/katrina/index.cfm
Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Lawhttp://www.povertylaw.org/disaster_assistance.htm
American Public Human Services Administrationhttp://www.aphsa.org/katrina/
National Immigration Law Center http://www.nilc.org/disaster_assistance/index.htm
National Disability Rights Networkhttp://www.napas.org/katrinalinks.htm
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fundhttp://www.dredf.org/katrina.html
The summary and chartpack highlight key findings from the joint USA Today/Kaiser/Harvard School of Public Health survey exploring Americans’ views on health care costs.
Survey Summary and Chartpack (.pdf)
This report analyzes survey data to describe the characteristics of two groups of nursing home residents who are 65 years or older: those who are discharged back to the community over a one year time period and those who remain in nursing homes for 90 days or longer. Over the last several years, some states have turned their attention to returning nursing home residents to community settings through nursing home transition programs. The findings provide insights on who to target in transition programs and what level and types of community resources are needed.
Report (.pdf)
This comprehensive survey from USA Today, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health examines how Americans are being affected by health care costs. The survey includes information on the barriers health care costs pose to obtaining medical care and the alternative measures people take to lower their medical and prescription drug bills.
The is based on a nationally representative sample of 1,531 adults ages 18 years and older, conducted between April 25 and June 9, 2005. The USA Today/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health Survey Project is a three-way partnership. USA Today, Kaiser, and Harvard jointly design and analyze surveys examining health care issues.
A three-day series based on the results of the survey appeared in USA Today. USA Today retains editorial control over the content published by the paper.
This document includes the toplines from the joint USA Today/Kaiser/Harvard School of Public Health survey exploring Americans’ views on health care costs.
Survey Toplines (.pdf)