Studies Examine Consumer-Directed Health Plans; Opportunities To Improve Care, Control Costs Within Medicaid; State Health Care Reform Efforts

• "Consumer-Directed Health Plans: Mixed Employer Signals, Complex Market Dynamics," Center for Studying Health System Change: The study found that supporters of consumer-directed health plans believe such plans will become part of a larger employer strategy to place more responsibility on workers for health care costs, lifestyle choices and treatment decisions. According to the study, health plans in the last two years have developed various consumer-support tools to help enrollees estimate the cost of care, as well as information about healthy lifestyles and treatment decisions. The study also found that some employers believe that CDHPs, especially those tied to health savings accounts, are difficult for employees to understand and, therefore, require extensive employee education (HSC release, 3/27).
  
  
• New publications, Center for Health Care Strategies: The two new publications focus on opportunities within Medicaid to improve care and control costs for beneficiaries with complex and high-cost needs. "Purchasing Strategies To Improve Care Management for Complex Populations: A National Scan of State Purchasers" examines state innovations in care management for the elderly and blind, people with disabilities and Supplemental Security Income populations. "Medicaid Best Buys: Improving Care Management for High-Need, High-Cost Beneficiaries" outlines a "road map" for states to follow in designing comprehensive programs for beneficiaries with complex and high-cost health care needs. It also includes brief case studies that depict the complexity of Medicaid beneficiaries' needs, in addition to profiles of three state programs (CHCS release 3/27).
  
  
• "State of the States 2008: Rising to the Challenge," Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: The report outlines the past year's efforts to go beyond the current pattern of health care reform thinking and find new tools to address reform, while also addressing historically difficult policy questions that remain unanswered. The report also identifies key questions facing states that are considering comprehensive reforms (RWJF release, 3/27).