http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications.aspx Foundation and grantee publications Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:41:34 GMT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/G7aDQ_62EWQ/National-Health-Care-Reform-And-Its-Impact-on-Massachusetts.aspx This analysis, conducted by the University of Massachusetts Center for Health Law and Economics, outlines the potential impact a national health reform bill may have on Massachusetts, including key areas that bear further monitoring. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:26:00 GMT 9a616621-46d2-478f-a0d7-6a15384a7e2c http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/National-Health-Care-Reform-And-Its-Impact-on-Massachusetts.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/kuV4YBrX8OE/091029CBHReport.aspx This report is based on a survey of 1,982 mental health providers in Massachusetts including psychiatrists, psychiatric clinical nurse specialists, psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, and marriage and family therapists. It estimates the need for children’s mental health services; assesses child and family mental health service delivery capacity; identifies variation in capacity, including variation by geography, linguistic ability, and cultural competence; and documents challenges to meeting current demand for services. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:14:00 GMT 35cf672a-c0dd-4a82-94a0-b772d9966b13 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/091029CBHReport.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/co-jwBRazlo/090924EDPolicyBrief.aspx This policy brief based on data from the 2008 Massachusetts Health Reform Survey shows that while health reform in Massachusetts has succeeded in increasing health insurance coverage and access to care, use of emergency departments by working-age residents remains high. Those seeking care in EDs may have trouble accessing care in other settings. They are less likely to use a doctor’s office or private clinic as their usual source of care and they are somewhat less likely to report having a place they usually go to (other than the ED) when they are sick or need advice about their health. And frequent users of emergency rooms (those reporting more than three ED visits in a year) are a sicker, more disabled and chronically ill population than other adults in the state. Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:03:00 GMT 075f7146-633d-4496-8c40-871e3b98f9d9 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/090924EDPolicyBrief.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/_qFW3avsoc0/091009UninsurancePolicyBrief.aspx This policy brief describes the rate of uninsurance among working-age adults in Massachusetts and public support for health reform. This brief is part of a series funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, the Commonwealth Fund, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on implementation of the Massachusetts reforms. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:24:00 GMT 41c91bd0-8710-4a17-9e61-be6308c4190d http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/091009UninsurancePolicyBrief.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/HuVukjlOfCA/090804MHRSReportRevised.aspx This policy brief by Sharon Long of The Urban Institute measures geographic and racial disparities in access to health care in Massachusetts. The data in the brief comes from the third annual Massachusetts Health Reform Survey. This revised version of the policy brief, which was originally published May 28, 2009, reflects changes made after an error in constructing survey weights was discovered and corrected. These changes do not impact the basic findings and conclusions in the original policy brief with respect to geographic differences; however, it does lead to more evidence of racial/ethnic differences in the affordability of health care in Massachusetts. Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:09:00 GMT 3689429e-deee-42bb-b98f-6da64a64897a http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/090804MHRSReportRevised.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/GxhCvumI3Z0/090624AffordabilityTestimony.aspx The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation was invited by the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing to offer testimony on the affordability of health care. Foundation Director of Policy and Research Shanna Shulman, Ph.D. offered the following testimony. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:02:00 GMT fa135ca7-86cc-4e7d-89fd-b0875518be8d http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/090624AffordabilityTestimony.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/saUIURfYtXM/090609.aspx The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation was invited by the Joint Committee on Public Health to offer testimony about health care disparities. Foundation President Jarrett T. Barrios and Foundation Associate Director of Grantmaking and Evaluation Miriam Messinger offered the following findings from the Foundation's policy research and grantmaking programs. Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:11:00 GMT b4bfb7d6-90a3-4322-9d8f-8e17c7b175bb http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/090609.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/KY22WsP_KZ4/090528JSISummitCBCPresentation.aspx Presentation made by John Snow, Inc. at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation's annual Summit on Access May 28, 2009. The presentation summarizes a year of investigation into barriers to health care access that consisted of a literature review, focus groups, interviews with health access experts, and a survey of the newly-insured. This research is part of the Foundation's Care Beyond Coverage policy initiative. Thu, 28 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT f73386d5-d388-4606-9712-c173aa1728b9 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/090528JSISummitCBCPresentation.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/-bhRc-Jw7P4/090528UrbanInstPPT.aspx Presentation made by Sharon Long of The Urban Institute at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation's annual Summit on Access May 28, 2009. The presentation summarizes the results of the third annual Massachusetts Health Reform Survey. Thu, 28 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT 03bb4851-8280-4910-a95b-6a2a737217e4 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/090528UrbanInstPPT.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/AoVx-awQ2C0/2008-Annual-Report.aspx Care Beyond Coverage: The Next Generation of Health Reform Thu, 28 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT 3e910924-a35f-43e4-adc0-d36fa38db764 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Annual-Reports/2008-Annual-Report.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/2tbgIF1-k2c/Network-Standards.aspx Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:00:00 GMT 7c626ec4-4190-458a-8b38-069f65bcf907 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/Network-Standards.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/BydvpKBqJHA/Shared-Responsibility.aspx This report is the first assessment of how spending to insure hundreds of thousands of additional people in the Commonwealth is being shared. It finds that the overall distribution of spending on health insurance by employers, individuals, and government remained essentially the same between 2005, one year before passage of the 2006 Massachusetts health reform law, and 2007, one year into the law’s implementation. Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:04:00 GMT b6f6c563-ab13-47a6-962d-fee6fb09781e http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/Shared-Responsibility.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/9TUJcfKO2w8/Funding-Makes-a-Difference.aspx This paper traces the complex history of health care reform efforts in Massachusetts over 25 years, focusing on the significant role that philanthropy played. It pays particular attention to the interaction among policymakers, grant makers, and consumer advocates over time as the political landscape evolved and new strategies and alliances emerged. Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:00:00 GMT df6c87e1-5668-4103-b056-b675a44adda9 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/Funding-Makes-a-Difference.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/zNgoMQczkpo/Lessons-Learned-from-Mass.aspx This report summarizes the impact of health reform thus far and may be used as a point of reference for policy makers who are considering approaches to health reform elsewhere at either the state or national level. If the Massachusetts model continues to work, all or part of this model and its supporting principles may be useful in local or national health reform efforts. Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:00:00 GMT 8eac5267-36a3-4593-a7c4-0498bd07a7af http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/Lessons-Learned-from-Mass.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/f7fPgPIw0fg/Long-Employers-Response-to-MHR.aspx This policy brief uses data from surveys of working-age adults to provide an assessment of employers’ responses to the reforms enacted under the Massachusetts health reform law from the perspective of their employees. Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 04691de6-19a3-435d-bc55-befe19741bc5 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Issue-Briefs/2009/Long-Employers-Response-to-MHR.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/SvmQW_C-1Bs/2008-Blendon-survey.aspx An examination of public opinion in Massachusetts toward health reform from 2003 through 2008. Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT a200704f-d922-4dc3-81ce-41c2de0da91f http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/2008-Blendon-survey.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/K40m0xjrS3c/2008-Gabel-Employers-Survey.aspx An examination of employers' responses to the implementation of the Massachusetts health reform law and whether or not "crowd out" has occured. Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 7beaa3a2-21ed-4044-8690-266f3e55ad45 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/2008-Gabel-Employers-Survey.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/G3Mh8XPhGM0/Long-Impact-of-Health-Reform-on-Underinsurance.aspx A 10-page issue brief that assesses the extent to which the insurance provided in Massachusetts under health reform in 2007 protects individuals from financial risk in the event of a major illness or injury. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 4667848b-3db1-4f38-9a88-11b78340c7d0 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Issue-Briefs/2009/Long-Impact-of-Health-Reform-on-Underinsurance.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/B6MHr4MOX3A/Outreach-and-Enrollment.aspx A summary of the impact of the Foundation's Connecting Consumers with Care grant program area from 2001 through 2008, and the work that outreach and enrollment workers perform. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT b402988e-4572-48f6-be5c-00afcb1f4e98 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Issue-Briefs/2009/Outreach-and-Enrollment.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/QgJofX_Qe8k/Long-Who-Gained-Under-Health-Reform.aspx An eight-page issue brief that analyzes the impacts of health reform on insurance coverage across different population groups in the state. Specifically, it examines differences in insurance coverage by demographic characteristics (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, and gender), health status, employment, and geography. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 1ea5eea1-47d2-43ac-aa59-706021c298b0 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Issue-Briefs/2009/Long-Who-Gained-Under-Health-Reform.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/doxluPSiBj0/Outreach-and-Enrollment-brief.aspx A summary of the impact of the Foundation's Connecting Consumers with Care grant program area from 2001 through 2008, and the work that outreach and enrollment workers perform. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT ad639789-cbb0-40c8-9e44-cbad9bdfe8c9 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Evaluation-Reports/2009/Outreach-and-Enrollment-brief.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/gGGaJjf4FAI/In-Debt-But-Not-Indifferent.aspx The work of The Access Project's Medical Debt Resolution Program and the impact of the Massachusetts health reform law on medical debt. Contains a summary of issues related to health reform that have left people vulnerable to unaffordable medical bills. Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:00:00 GMT e7d0a5d8-2163-457f-a58f-9c6246158bfe http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/In-Debt-But-Not-Indifferent.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/236bnFTEXSI/080701BlendonChartPack.aspx Results of a public opinion survey of Massachusetts residents about health care reform. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:00:00 GMT a026c3c2-65f9-43db-b77c-95ae59c51d9f http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/080701BlendonChartPack.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/H5M17G1JU_Q/2008-Blendon-Poll.aspx Results of a public opinion poll of Massachusetts residents about health care reform. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:00:00 GMT 107b5cc0-92c7-4803-80ea-da163e640598 http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Policy-Reports/2009/2008-Blendon-Poll.aspx http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PublicationsFeed/~3/owVhyuV5yco/2007-Annual-Report.aspx Expanding Access Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:00:00 GMT acae8c0f-d3ae-45f2-8714-3f9e78fe00ea http://bluecrossfoundation.org/Policy-and-Research/Publications/Annual-Reports/2007-Annual-Report.aspx