State Health Reform Series

Reducing the number of people without insurance coverage remains an important policy priority at both the state and federal levels. However, current financial challenges and budget shortfalls mean that in addition to expanding affordable coverage options, policymakers must continue to seek ways to improve the delivery of care – and at lower costs.

An October 8, 2008 forum co-hosted by the Engelberg Center and NASHP brought together state and national perspectives in government and the private sector in an effort to identify specific ways that more robust state-national partnerships can help accelerate and improve reform efforts at the state and regional levels and also inform national policy. The event was led by Mark McClellan, Director of the Engelberg Center at Brookings, and Alan Weil, Executive Director of NASHP. Participating in the event were Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans, Reed Tuckson, Executive Vice President and Chief of Medical Affairs at UnitedHealth Group, Herb Kuhn, Deputy Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and other distinguished panelists representing state and federal administrative agencies, health care provider groups, and the business community.

The purpose of the forum was to highlight examples of states that are taking multi-stakeholder or multi-payer approaches to improve the overall delivery of care, examine lessons learned and common themes that have emerged from these efforts, and identify opportunities for building on best practices. Panelists offered specific ideas for developing an enhanced partnership with national public and private stakeholders that may help most effectively advance the goals of health care delivery reform, and identified key components of a more robust state/national framework for delivery system reform, including the need to build evidence around efforts to contain costs and improve quality through greater alignment and standardization of cost and quality measures, and the need for greater improvement and innovation in care coordination, accountability, and provider reimbursement.

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