Health Policy Commons^™

Unlv / Brookings West: Intermountain West Region Regional Survey, University Of Nevada Las Vegas, Brookings Institute

Brookings Mountain West Publications

The 2010 Intermountain West Public Opinion Survey documents responses from 2,000 residents of the Intermountain West (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah). Gerstein | Agne Strategic Communications conducted the survey from August 23 – September 1, 2010. A minimum of 250 respondents for each state are included in the results for this survey. Respondents included 1,700 landline interviews and 300 cell phone interviews. Gerstein | Agne Strategic Communications provides strategic planning, communications, project management, and research services to a wide range of non-profit organizations, Fortune 500 companies, and candidates for elected office.

The survey includes an extensive series …

Public Health Insurance Utilization In New York City, 2008, Rachael Varra

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

Introduction: This study examines demographic and socioeconomic factors of racial/ethnic groups in New York City between as of 2008 – particularly the utilization of public health insurance (PHI) benefits.

Methods: Data on Latinos and other racial/ethnic groups were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, reorganized for public use by the Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota, IPUMSusa. Cases in the dataset were weighted and analyzed to produce population estimates.

Results: Of the 25% of New Yorkers receiving PHI in 2008, the absolute number of whites, blacks and Latinos receiving PHI was similar. However, greater proportions of Latinos …

A Step Towards Realization Of The Twenty-Seventh Right?: A Preliminary Analysis Of The Proposed National Health Insurance For South Africa, Kelsey Fraser

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

As part of a three-week social analysis study, the African National Congress’ (ANC) proposal for a National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme was examined. Legal commitments in Section 27 of the Constitution and Section 3 of the National Health Act oblige the South African government to work progressively towards realization of the right to healthcare. The latest push for NHI can be interpreted as an attempt to broaden realization of this right.

Information on the NHI proposal was obtained primarily from documents released by the ANC and was supplemented by written analysis found through Internet research. A partial understanding of public …

Data Segmentation In Electronic Health Information Exchange: Policy Considerations And Analysis, Melissa M. Goldstein, Alison L. Rein, Melissa M. Heesters, Penelope P. Hughes, Benjamin Williams, Scott A. Weinstein

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

The issue of whether and, if so, to what extent patients should have control over the sharing or withholding of their health information represents one of the foremost policy challenges related to electronic health information exchange. It is widely acknowledged that patients' health information should flow where and when it is needed to support the provision of appropriate and high-quality care. Equally significant, however, is the notion that patients want their needs and preferences to be considered in the determination of what information is shared with other parties, for what purposes, and under what conditions. Some patients may prefer to …

A Heavy Burden: The Individual Costs Of Being Overweight And Obese In The United States, Avi Dor, Christine Ferguson, Casey Langwith, Ellen Tan

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

More than 60% of the United States population is overweight or obese, and if the current trajectory continues, 50% of the population will be obese by 2030. There is no question that being obese or overweight, is more costly than being of normal weight. Using existing literature, we have detailed the costs incurred due to overweight and obesity that affect working-age adults at the individual level.

Among the items discussed in this review, overweight or obese individuals bear the full burden for some costs, such as the value of lost life, lost wages, gasoline costs, and, when applicable, life insurance. …

Renewing Health Services Management Research: Redrawing The Citizen-Client In Irish Health Care Policy, Vivienne Byers

Conference Papers

Ireland has a history of health policy which is not explicit as to its aims and objectives. In light of this fact, this paper examines the position and direction of the Irish Health Services, five years on from the advent of the setting up of the Health Services Executive (HSE) and the restructuring of the health services. The Irish health system policy is guided by the Health Strategy of 2001; in that there should be equitable distribution of health services focused on the need of the citizen-client, and also by the Primary Care Strategy (2001:7); in that there should be …

Aligning Forces For Quality: Improving Language Services Performance Measures, Marsha Regenstein

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

This portion of the Language Services Performance Measures guide provides a brief overview of the information contained within each section of the manual. It is intended for use as a quick reference to assist in the implementation of the Language Services performance measures. The sections of the manual are interrelated and have been designed to be used together.

Concurrent Sexual Partnerships Do Not Explain The Hiv Epidemics In Africa: A Systematic Review Of The Evidence, Larry Sawers, Eileen Stillwaggon

Economics Faculty Publications

The notion that concurrent sexual partnerships are especially common in sub-Saharan Africa and explain the region’s high HIV prevalence is accepted by many as conventional wisdom. In this paper, we evaluate the quantitative and qualitative evidence offered by the principal proponents of the concurrency hypothesis and analyze the mathematical model they use to establish the plausibility of the hypothesis.

We find that research seeking to establish a statistical correlation between concurrency and HIV prevalence either finds no correlation or has important limitations. Furthermore, in order to simulate rapid spread of HIV, mathematical models require unrealistic assumptions about frequency of sexual …

U.S. Participation In International Health Treaties, Commitments, Partnerships And Other Agreements, Jennifer Kates, Rebecca L. Katz

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

The U.S. government's role in global health is long-standing and multifaceted. While primarily involving directly funding and operating programs in low- and middle-income countries, it also includes participation in international treaties, commitments, partnerships, and other multilateral agreements that address or encompass health. Such agreements serve numerous purposes including establishing political and legal commitments, formalizing international relationships, and coordinating roles and responsibilities in an increasingly complex and globalized and interconnected world. The role of the U.S. in international agreements has gained new attention in the Obama Administration, which has stated an intention to reinvigorate multilateral engagement and international partnerships on health …

Envisioning Nevada’S Future: Goals & Strategies For Advancing Our Quality Of Life, Nevada Vision Stakeholder Group, Moody’S Analytics

Brookings Mountain West Publications

Nevada’s severe downturn has brought to light many of the long-term challenges facing the state. Not only is its economy subject to painful swings, but Nevada’s primary drivers— consumer services (primarily gaming, hospitality and housing) and resource extraction—will provide less support than they have in past business cycles. Less economic vitality will make it harder to offer Nevadans the quality of life they expect.

The importance of the economy to quality of life is equally clear—quality of life is a hollow promise without a healthy and supportive economy. Similarly, a proper fiscal structure—both in terms of spending and revenues—is critical …

Women’S Health Disparities And Midwifery Care: Spotlight On Massachusetts, Dorothy Hiersteiner

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

As a result of Massachusetts’ 2006 health insurance coverage law, there has been a significant decrease in the uninsurance rate for women of color. Access to and use of health care for all women in the Commonwealth has also increased. Despite these coverage and access gains, major racial/ethnic disparities in health conditions and outcomes still exist among women, especially in the use and quality of prenatal care, the occurrence of preterm and low birth weight births, and infant mortality rates. The proportion of Massachusetts births that were cesarean deliveries in 2007 was 8% higher than the national rate. Compared to …

Women’S Health Disparities And Midwifery Care, Adeola Oni-Orisan, Dorothy Hiersteiner, Althea Swett

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

This fact sheet was developed for the roundtables project “Midwifery Care in New England: Addressing the Needs of Underserved and Diverse Communities of Women.” Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office on Women’s Health (Region I), this initiative addresses the challenges and opportunities related to the provision of midwifery care to underserved and vulnerable populations of women. The project aims to increase our understanding of regional midwifery workforce needs in the context of ensuring that all women living in New England have access to timely, affordable, and high-quality health care.

The September 2010 roundtables were …

Women’S Health Disparities And Midwifery Care: Spotlight On Connecticut, Dorothy Hiersteiner, Kaye Inandan

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

Although Connecticut’s Medicaid programs, Husky A and B, are essential providers of coverage for maternity care, there are still major racial and ethnic disparities in access to, use of, and quality of prenatal care in Connecticut. The cesarean birth rate in the state is almost 9% higher than the US average. African American/black and Hispanic mothers experience comparatively high rates of low birth weight births. Furthermore, Connecticut is home to a substantial rural population which experiences unique challenges to accessing adequate health care. While 75% of the Connecticut population is non-Hispanic white, 9% is African American/black, 12% is Hispanic and …

Women’S Health Disparities And Midwifery Care: Spotlight On New Hampshire, Dorothy Hiersteiner

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

New Hampshire faces significant obstacles to serving the nearly 6% of the population living in medically underserved areas. In addition, many residents of New Hampshire are uninsured, limiting their access to vital medical care. According to 2007-8 data, the racial/ethnic breakdown of New Hampshire residents is: 1% African American/black, 2% Hispanic, 94% non-Hispanic white and 3% Other. In 2005, 5.9% of the total New Hampshire population was foreign born.1 Since 1996, New Hampshire has seen increases in low birth weight births, cesarean births2, and infant mortality with racial/ethnic disparities reflected in most maternal and infant indicators.

Women’S Health Disparities And Midwifery Care: Spotlight On Maine, Dorothy Hiersteiner

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

With a large percentage of its population living in rural areas, Maine faces obstacles to providing adequate prenatal and maternity care to many women. The vast majority (96.2%) of Maine residents are non-Hispanic white, 1.2% are African American/black, 1.4% are Hispanic and 1.2% have other racial/ethnic backgrounds.

Women’S Health Disparities And Midwifery Care: Spotlight On Vermont, Dorothy Hiersteiner

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

In Vermont, racial and ethnic dispariti es in low birth weight and preterm birth rates exist alongside racial and ethnic disparities in health insurance coverage and use of preventative care. As of 2005, the percentage of racial and ethnic minorities in Vermont was approximately 3.3%, compared to 25% for the nation as a whole. In 2005, 3.4% of the Vermont population was foreign born.

Women’S Health Disparities And Midwifery Care: Spotlight On Rhode Island, Dorothy Hiersteiner

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

Rhode Islanders face unique health disparities based on race, ethnicity and location. Just over six percent (6.3%) of the Rhode Island population is living in Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), according to 2008 data. Native American and African American/black communities face particular health disparities, specifically in the areas of reproductive and infant health. In 2008, 79% of the Rhode Island population was non-Hispanic white, while 5% was African-American/black, 11% was Hispanic and 5% had other racial/ethnic backgrounds. In 2005, 12.4% of the total Rhode Island population was foreign born.

Kinerja Penyuluhan Keluarga Berencana Di Indonesia: Pedoman Pengujian Efektivitas Kinerja Pada Era Desentralisasi, Ukik Kusuma Kurniawan, Hadi Pratomo, Adang Bachtiar

Kesmas

Keberhasilan program KB mengendalikan tingkat kelahiran di Indonesia selama lebih dari tiga dekade tidak terlepas dari peran petugas Penyuluh Keluarga Berencana (PKB). Di Rwanda, keaktifan penyuluhan oleh PKB dapat meningkatkan prevalensi kesertaan akseptor hingga 29%. Sejak tahun 2004, pascakebijakan desentralisasi di Indonesia, jumlah PKB menurun drastis hingga menyisakan dua pertiga dari jumlah awal sekitar 3.500 petugas. Dampak perubahan tersebut tercermin pada angka fertilitas total (TFR) Indonesia berdasarkan data SDKI 2007 yang bertahan sama dengan data SDKI 2002-2003 (2,6 anak per wanita). Hal tersebut dikhawatirkan dapat semakin meningkat apabila kinerja program KB termasuk kinerja petugas PKB tidak mendapat perhatian. Peningkatan TFR …

Pelayanan Rumah Sakit Bagi Masyarakat Miskin (Studi Kasus Di Enam Wilayah Indonesia), Tri Rini Puji Lestari

Kesmas

Pelayanan kepada pasien miskin yang diberikan secara berbeda masih sering terjadi. Penelitian ini bertujuan mendapatkan informasi tentang pelayanan kesehatan yang diberikan oleh rumah sakit kepada masyarakat miskin di enam wilayah Indonesia. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan subjek penelitiannya adalah masyarakat miskin yang sedang dan/atau pernah mendapatkan pelayanan kesehatan di rumah sakit di enam wilayah Indonesia. Hasil penelitian memperlihatkan bahwa pasien miskin di rumah sakit pemerintah maupun rumah sakit swasta, umumnya memiliki tingkat kepuasan yang kurang memadai, di antaranya pada pelayanan administrasi yang dinilai rumit, berbelit, kurang informasi, petugas yang kurang ramah, tidak diberikan resep obat generik, dan pelayanan yang memakan …

Community Health Centers: Opportunities And Challenges Of Health Reform, Sara J. Rosenbaum, Peter Shin, Emily Jones, Jennifer Tolbert

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

Community Health Centers: Opportunities and Challenges of Health Reform describes the provisions of the new health reform law that affect community health centers, including increased funding designed to expand the number of health centers, health insurance expansions that will significantly reduce the number of health center patients without insurance, and strategies aimed at increasing the primary care workforce. The brief also discusses some of the opportunities and challenges for the health centers, such as the task of recruiting and retaining qualified health professionals, the need to establish networks and referral arrangements and the renewed focus on prevention and public health …