In The Media Archives

Detroit Free Press quotes Terrisca Des Jardins on the unintended consequences of hospital price transparency

In a Detroit Free Press article, Trump rule forces Michigan hospitals to reveal secret prices, JC Reindl quotes Terrisca Des Jardins on the potential consequences of hospitals’ price transparency.

New rules, which took effect Jan. 1, require hospitals to disclose the rates they have negotiated with insurers–information that was previously secret. Most hospitals in southeast Michigan have complied. The Free Press found significant differences in the price of procedures between hospitals and between insurers at the same hospital.

Supporters of the hospital price transparency rule believe price transparency will lower healthcare costs. For instance, an insurance company may demand a reduction from a hospital if it discovers that it is paying more than a competitor. Des Jardins, however, warns, “There is not yet enough evidence that shows that price transparency will indeed lower costs. Sometimes, these types of efforts have unintended consequences.”

The American Hospital Association opposed the disclosures, contending that hospitals are too overwhelmed currently with COVID-19 treatment and vaccine administration. They have asked President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team to roll back the rules. The association’s CEO Richard Pollack highlighted that hospitals should focus their time and resources on delivering patient care and giving vaccines rather than being overburdened with additional requirements.

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Riba and Adams op-ed: Four ways Michigan providers can prepare to serve aging veterans

MI Provided serving a veteran

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised awareness of the need for aging veterans’ healthcare. The situation has become more serious as many aging veterans have put off getting medical and mental health treatment because of the pandemic. A recent assessment was conducted to determine the number of health and mental healthcare specialists in Michigan who are qualified to offer the veterans of the state high-quality, competent care.

In a Lansing State Journal op-ed, CHRT Research and Evaluation Director Melissa Riba, and VA Ann Arbor health physician Dr. Megan Adams, share findings from a recent analysis of the readiness and capacity of Michigan’s primary and specialty care providers to serve and provide high-quality care to, the state’s aging veterans.

Based on the assessment, Riba and Adams also offer four recommendations for Michigan health and mental health care providers, payers, and systems–recommendations that may be of interest to other states–that wish to improve community-based health care for aging veterans:

Screen all patients for veteran status,
Learn about the specific health needs of veterans,
Explore veteran and military culture, and
A better understanding of the resources and services covered and offered by the Veterans Health Administration.

By following these recommendations, healthcare organizations and systems can contribute to aging veterans’ quality of life improvements and give them the care and assistance they require to age with respect and dignity.

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Cadillac News shares CHRT’s marketplace insurance rate analysis findings with residents of Wexford, Missaukee, Lake, and Osceola counties

Insurance Enrollment Insurance premiums have dropped in Wexford, Missaukee, Lake, and Osceola counties write Karen Hopper Usher for the Cadillac News. Hopper Usher shares findings from CHRT’s 2021 Michigan Marketplace insurance rate analysis to urge readers to apply for coverage during the six-week open enrollment window.

“Residents may find that coverage is much less expensive than they think,” writes Hopper Usher, citing CHRT’s analysis. “In 2020, 54,000 Michiganders were eligible for a federal tax credit that covered the full cost of their monthly Bronze-level plan premiums, reducing their out-of-pocket costs on health care by roughly 60 percent.”

Hopper Usher writes that “in 2021, the cost for a bronze-level plan has dropped 27.5% in both Lake and Osceola counties, where the average anticipated insurance rate is $249 a month. In Missaukee and Wexford Counties, the premiums have dropped 7.4%, for an average of $297 a month.”

The article emphasizes that the marketplace exchange is especially important now after as many as 840,000 may be uninsured after losing their jobs during the pandemic and the cost of care for COVID if hospitalized may be very expensive.

Enrollment for marketplace health insurance plans closes on December 15th at midnight.

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The Morning Sun shares CHRT’s Marketplace insurance rates analysis with Clare, Gratiot, and Isabella County readers

Image of a notebook with text "Open Enrollment" In a December Morning Sun article, author Greg Nelson discusses the Center for Health and Research Transformation’s analysis of the Michigan ACA Marketplace insurance rates for 2021. “The deadline to purchase insurance coverage through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace is midnight Tuesday, Dec. 15,”’ Nelson reminds readers.

The article outlines rate changes–mostly reductions–for Clare, Gratiot, and Isabella County residents seeking lowest-cost Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans on the Michigan ACA Marketplace. Nine insurance companies offer plans on the marketplace and residents will have multiple plans to choose from, wrote Nelson.

In June, roughly “7.7 million Americans had lost jobs with employer-sponsored health insurance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic” and specifically, “CHRT estimated that Michigan experienced a 46 percent increase in the number of uninsured adults between February and May alone.” These grave statistics highlight the importance of the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace for many Michiganders.

“2021 ACA Health Insurance Marketplace plan options are robust for communities across Michigan,” writes CHRT in the analysis cited in the story. “In many counties, rates have declined considerably. These 2021 Marketplace changes are favorable for consumers overall. However, rates have increased in other counties and regions. Consumers should review their options and make a plan selection by December 15, when the annual open enrollment period ends.”

Nelson also directs readers to healthcare.gov and healthcare.gov/lower-costs to check if they qualify for savings.

Those who need assistance with enrollment can contact their local Department of Health and Human Services office. In Isabella County, call 989-772-8400; in Clare County, call 989-539-4260; and in Gratiot County, call 989-875-5181.

Consumers already enrolled in a 2020 Marketplace plan should explore plan options and select a 2021 plan before being automatically reenrolled on December 16. Last year’s lowest-cost plans may not be the lowest-cost plans in the coming year.

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Marianne Udow-Phillips writes about the importance of maintaining access to clean water during the COVID-19 pandemic

Handwashing Image In a November Bridge Michigan opinion article, To protect all Michiganders, maintain access to clean water, Marianne Udow-Phillips writes about the relationship between access to clean water and health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“On March 28, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an emergency order requiring the reconnection of service to residents who had their water shut off. The Governor then extended this order in July to stop water shut offs through the end of this year,” writes Udow-Phillips. But in October, when the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that these emergency orders were unconstitutional, the decision to continue to water service restoration during the COVID-19 pandemic was left up to the Legislature.

One preventative measure taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is frequent hand washing. Without access to water, the ability to engage in this behavior quickly diminishes says Udow-Phillips. “For those who cannot afford their water bills, shutoffs not only endanger their lives, but the lives of others they come in contact with.”

Michigan Senator Stephanie Chang recently introduced Senate Bill 241 which would “maintain Gov. Whitmer’s water restoration order and make sure Michiganders’ water is not shut off while we battle COVID-19.”

Water protection has yet to be restored by the Legislature and, says Udow-Phillips, “families are again at risk of losing access to water solely because they cannot afford their water bills.” Sen. Chang’s bill could provide relief to these families until there is a widely accessible vaccine, she continues.

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U.S. News and World Report cites Marianne Udow-Phillips in article about Joe Biden’s health care platform

In a U.S. News and World Report article, If Elected, Joe Biden Has Big Plans for Health Care, Dennis Thompson extensively cites Marianne Udow-Phillips, who was interviewed by HealthDay’s Mabel Jong on the topic. The article, written just days after the 2020 presidential election, highlights Joe Biden’s proposed Affordable Care Act improvements, including expanding eligibility.

Udow-Phillips says, “Joe Biden was squarely in the camp of building on the Affordable Care Act,” in efforts to make health care more affordable. She also says that “Biden has proposed redefining affordable health care to be no more than 8.5 percent of a family’s income,” as opposed to 9.5 percent. Biden would also create a public option available “even for individuals who have employer coverage.”

The article emphasizes that these proposals could face challenges should Republicans maintain control of the Senate. Biden’s proposals are “expensive and it’s unlikely to see them getting through a Senate that continues to be controlled by Republicans,” says Brian Blase, an advisor to President Trump, who was also cited in the piece. Udow-Phillips remains hopeful, however, that Biden will be able to implement things that could improve the ACA’s accessibility and effectiveness.

In addition to the Affordable Care Act, an assertive COVID-19 response is central to Biden’s health care plan. Udow-Phillips expects Biden to “tackle the coronavirus with a science-based approach” by relying more on the CDC and public health officials such as Dr. Fauci. Udow-Phillips also speaks to the need for a second stimulus package and additional funding as private physicians, academic medical centers, and nursing homes face COVID-19 related financial challenges.

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In Mlive, Marianne Udow-Phillips says the biggest impact of the ACA on Michiganders’ lives is increased insurance coverage

In the MLive article, Obamacare case before Supreme Court today has huge implications for Michigan residents, experts say, Julie Mack highlights the impact of the ACA on Michiganders and what could happen if the ACA was repealed following a Supreme Court decision.

Healthy Michigan, the state’s Medicaid expansion program, has covered “14 percent of the state’s population age 19 to 64” reports Mack. And other Michigan residents have benefited from the ACA through subsidies and the Health Insurance Marketplace. Furthermore, residents benefit from the ACA’s policy of prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.

Mack interviews Marianne Udow-Phillips, who says “no question, the number of people who have gained insurance coverage under Obamacare is the biggest impact of the law.” Udow-Phillips also emphasizes how integrated the ACA is in our everyday lives. For example, says Udow-Phillips, the ACA is the reason restaurants publish calorie counts on their menus and women have a place at work to breastfeed.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an influx of people losing their jobs, and subsequently, there has been a jump in enrollment in Healthy Michigan. While purchasing insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace can be expensive, the ACA has been “very impactful and it’s been a net positive” said Jeff Rombeck, deputy director of policy and planning for the Michigan Association of Health Plans.

However, all of these benefits created by the ACA are “at stake in a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court,” Mack writes. The case, which was brought by numerous state attorneys general and “backed by the Trump Administration” calls into question the ACA’s constitutionality. The Supreme Court began hearing arguments on November 10th, however, a final decision is not expected until the spring.

Mack also interviews Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow who states she is “very, very concerned” about the future of the ACA and “is convinced overturning the ACA would throw the health-care system into chaos.”

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Detroit Today discusses health care and the 2020 election with guests, Marianne Udow-Phillips and Yasmeen Abutaleb

Healthcare reform political debate has centered on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) since it was passed in 2010 by the Obama administration. Republicans in Congress and President Trump have been threatening to repeal the ACA for the last four years, putting the law in danger.

In an October podcast, “In 2020, Healthcare is Top of Mind for Most Voters,” Detroit Today host Stephen Henderson interviews Marianne Udow-Phillips about healthcare and the 2020 presidential election.

“Health care is second only to the economy when it comes to issues that will influence Americans’ vote in November,” says Henderson. Both the 2020 presidential election and the COVID-19 pandemic have reminded voters that the “affordability of health care is fundamental,” said Udow-Phillips.

Udow-Phillip and another special guest, Yasmeen Abutaleb, a national healthcare reporter for The Washington Post, discuss how the health care plans of President Donald Trump and presidential hopeful Joe Biden differ.

Udow-Phillips said that the research conducted by CHRT shows that, “the changes by the Trump administration have meant that more people are uninsured in Michigan today than they were at the start of the Trump Administration.”

The future Supreme Court case set to be heard on November 10th about the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act was also discussed. Without a plan to replace the ACA, there would be big impacts on Michigan, Udow-Phillips says.

The podcast also interviews citizens who receive health care through Medicaid.

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Detroit Free Press speaks with Udow-Phillips about COVID-19 response, other major health concerns

In the Detroit Free Press article, Retiring Michigan health care expert: We would not have predicted COVID-19 response, reporter JC Reindl interviewed Marianne Udow-Phillips, CHRT’s founding executive director, about how health care has evolved through her career, to discuss various health care concerns, CHRT’s role in Michigan’s COVID-19 response, and CHRT’s role in Michigan’s decision to expand Medicaid through the Healthy Michigan Plan.

Marianne Udow-Phillips, who has been at CHRT since its founding in 2006 but will step down from the role at the end of the calendar year, “has influenced decision-makers across the state, including governors of both parties,” Reindl writes.

In the Q&A, Udow-Phillips describes surveys CHRT conducted to analyze the capacity of Michigan’s health care providers to treat an influx of Medicaid patients should the state expand Medicaid. CHRT found that “81 percent said they would be willing to take Medicaid patients,” Udow-Phillips told Reindl. This finding was communicated to Michigan Governor Rick Synder and influenced the state’s decision to expand Medicaid, which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of Michigander’s receiving health care coverage.

More recently, CHRT and Udow-Phillips provided an analysis of Michigan’s COVID-19 response. Specifically, CHRT studied Michigan’s policy of placing COVID-19 patients in nursing home hubs on release from hospital care. CHRT found that “Michigan overall had a lower percentage of deaths in nursing homes than the national average, and that the hub facilities, which the state set up, performed quite a bit better, in terms of death rate, than the non-hub nursing homes.”

Udow-Phillips also addressed CHRT’s analysis of single-payer health care, the Affordable Care Act, and her future plans as a University of Michigan lecturer and senior advisor to CHRT.

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HealthDay interviews Marianne Udow-Phillips about prognosis for health care in America following a Biden victory

Biden and Trump Sign On November 4, 2020, while votes were still being tabulated in states across the country, HealthDay’s Mabel Jong interviewed Marianne Udow-Phillips, founding executive director of CHRT, about the future of health care in America if Biden were to win the electoral college. Biden and Trump have drastically different health care plans, and insurance coverage continues to be a critical topic for voters. Udow-Phillips and Brian Blase, an advisor to President Trump, discuss the implications of the election outcome.

Udow-Phillips states that Biden plans to build on the Affordable Care Act by expanding eligibility for subsidies and to lower the Medicare eligibility age to 60. Biden also has a plan for creating a “public option” for health insurance, says Udow-Phillips in the interview. And Biden has plans to make Affordable Care Act coverage more accessible by, for example, expanding the annual open enrollment period, which was reduced to a six-week period under the Trump Administration. Udow-Phillips also speaks about similiarities in Biden and Trump’s plans to lower prescription drug costs.

Jong questions Udow-Phillips about her predictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic if Biden takes office. Udow-Phillips talks of Biden’s plan to create a mask-mandate, strengthen the role of public health officials such as Dr. Fauci and other epidemiologists, and provide a second stimulus and more financial support for the health care system.

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