May 26, 2009 - Eighty-seven percent of patients recently discharged from Parkwest Medical Center said they would recommend the hospital to a family member or friend—a patient satisfaction level 19 percentage points higher than the national average.
Case Study
April 21, 2009 - Idaho Governor C. L. "Butch" Otter (R) discussed difficult choices during our "troubled times" in his January 12 "State of the State" address. He proposed a 7.5 percent budget cut for the state's Department of Health and Welfare, along with even greater cuts in other state agencies.
State Profile
April 21, 2009 - Since early January, state governors have been discussing health care in their annual "State of the State" addresses, despite not knowing exactly what the federal stimulus package or CHIP reauthorization would look like. Among the 40 speeches made through mid-February, the health policy messages varied in content and tone. The health-related provisions are summarized in an interactive feature.
State Profile
April 21, 2009 - New York Governor David Paterson (D) outlined four key health reform initiatives in his State of the State address on January 7: public coverage expansion, enrollment reforms, private insurance expansion for dependents, and multiple efforts to combat obesity.
State Profile
November 7, 2008 - Beginning January 1, 2009, Illinois parents will be able to keep their unmarried children on their health insurance plans until they reach age 26, or age 30 if they are military veterans.
State Profile
November 7, 2008 - Indiana estimates that nearly 10,000 children up to age 19 have become newly eligible for the SCHIP program, and state officials expect a little more than half will enroll in the first year.
State Profile
November 7, 2008 - In July, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed into law comprehensive health reform that helps the state move toward universal access to health coverage.
State Profile
September 30, 2008 - Pittsburgh-based Allegheny General Hospital, with 829 beds, is part of the six-hospital West Penn Allegheny Health System and a partner in the Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative.
Case Study
September 15, 2008 - The Arizona Medicaid Health Information Exchange Utility is a Web-based system for exchanging patients' health records and other medical information among the state's Medicaid providers.
State Profile
September 15, 2008 - The Florida Health Information Network operates at the community level, with the state supporting and encouraging local collaborations focused on health information exchange, particularly the development of regional health information organizations.
State Profile
September 15, 2008 - Oregon's Patient Safety Commission is an independent agency with a mission to reduce patient harm.
State Profile
September 15, 2008 -
State Profile
August 25, 2008 - The Kansas SQII team has developed a plan to define, test, and evaluate a medical home delivery model through payment reform. Phase 1, from July 2008 through July 2009, focuses on "attaining a clearer understanding of what constitutes a medical home and its importance," according to Marcia Nelson, executive director of the Kansas Heath Policy Authority and leader of the SQII team.
State Profile
August 25, 2008 - Realizing that coverage expansion, the focus of the state's 2006 health reform legislation, is not enough to improve overall health system performance, Massachusetts is undertaking what some policymakers are calling "Health Care Reform 2.0," with a focus on improving health care quality.
State Profile
August 25, 2008 - In May 2008, Minnesota legislators and Governor Tim Pawlenty reached agreement on a comprehensive package of health care payment reforms designed to promote medical homes, quality measurement, and cost and quality transparency.
State Profile