In The Media Archive

CHRT Health Policy Fellow Dr. Renu Tipirneni calls for bold policy action to address disparities in COVID-19

There are significant disparities in U.S. COVID-19 cases and deaths, but the underlying mechanism of these disparities remains unknown, says Health Policy Fellow Dr. Renuka Tipirneni. Tipirneni is a co-author of a cross-sectional study, published this month in JAMA Open, on the social and demographic factors most closely associated with COVID-19 incidence and death.

In this study, Dr. Tipirneni and coauthors investigated associations between county-level social risk factors and COVID-19 incidence and death using publicly available data sets, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention created the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to offer a composite measure of community sensitivity to challenges in the face of health shocks, including disease outbreaks.

The group found that “a wide range of social factors, including socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic minority status, family or household composition, and environmental factors, were significantly associated with COVID-19 incidence and mortality, which are also largely considered the driving forces associated with the racial/ethnic and social disparities that are already apparent in the COVID-19 pandemic in the US.”

“To truly bend the curve of disparities in COVID-19 and any future epidemics or pandemics,” write the authors, “these social risk factors and their root causes must be addressed through bold policy action and societal investment.”

CHRT Health Policy Fellow Mark Peterson argues for more support for adults with cerebral palsy and other childhood onset disabilities

Photo of Dr. Mark Peterson Dr. Mark Peterson, one of CHRT’s 2019 health policy fellows, is in Mayo Clinic Proceedings with “Cerebral palsy grows up,” arguing that more support is required for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) and other childhood-onset disabilities as they grow up.

The population of adults with childhood onset disabilities has increased significantly, writes Peterson. While there is very little research on this population, we do know that adults with cerebral palsy have shorter lifespans, mainly due to physical and psychological morbidities.

“While publication of more scientific research pertaining to the health of adults with CP across the lifespan will improve the state of the literature to inform evidence-based clinical practice, a more pressing issue is the complete lack of coordinated care and public assistance for this critical transition period [when children with CP become adults],” writes Peterson.

Peterson recommends that medical establishments develop systematic, coordinated care options for these populations.

In addition, he writes, “We must fund federal navigators with priority training to assist our young adults with disabilities and their caregivers… to identify the necessary health care coverage and medical specialists that children with disabilities who are transitioning to adulthood need.” Peterson emphasizes that these navigator groups should include people living with disabilities themselves.

“As people with CP and other childhood-onset disabilities grow up, we have a unique opportunity and obligation to help them live well,” Dr. Peterson concludes.

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.

READ THE ARTICLE

An all-star zoom tribute to Marianne Udow-Phillips, founding executive director of CHRT

Marianne Udow-Phillips served as director of Michigan’s Department of Human Services during Jennifer Granholm’s Administration and as a senior executive at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for over 20 years before becoming the founding executive director of CHRT in 2007.

To commemorate Marianne’s retirement from the executive director role, and to pay tribute to her many contributions to health across the state and nation, we’ve prepared a special zoom tribute with an all-star cast of colleagues, partners, and friends.

Marianne Udow-Phillips will continue to serve as an advisor to CHRT and support the success of a number of client projects after she retires from the executive director role at the end of December.

“We are deeply grateful to Marianne, as she has led the implementation of CHRT’s mission, vision, and values, leading to sustained success,” says CHRT Board Chair Tony Denton, chief operating officer of the U-M Health System, Michigan Medicine.

“Her leadership and vision to advance non-partisan, evidence-based policy and assure access to care for all, improve population health, and advance social justice have had an enormous impact in Michigan and beyond.”

SHARE YOUR REFLECTIONS

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.

READ THE FULL OP-ED

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.

READ THE FULL STORY

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

Notebook with "Open Enrollment" written on it

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.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

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.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

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.

READ THE FULL STORY

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.”

READ THE FULL STORY