Health Policy Commons^™

The Utility Of Trouble: Leveling The Playing Field: Giving Municipal Officials The Tools To Moderate Health Insurance Costs, Robert L. Carey

Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management Publications

According to the research, Boston could have reduced its 2010 health premiums by between 15.6 and 17.1 percent, for a savings of between $41.4 and $45.4 million by joining the state’s Group Insurance Commission, more widely known as the GIC. The City is unable to join the GIC, however, without first receiving 70% union approval, according to state law. This requirement and the associated tradeoffs involved are a major barrier to municipal participation in the GIC. Several cities and towns including Boston have called for cities and towns to have the same ability as the state to design health insurance …

Head Start: It Works For Indiana Children And Families!, Jennifer Dobbs-Oates, James Elicker, Volker Thomas

Center for Families Publications

This technical report summarizes new and existing data to address the question, “Does Head Start work for Indiana children, families, and communities?” Data sources consulted in this study include the state Head Start Program Information Report, local Indiana Head Start and Early Head Start Programs, existing national studies of Head Start and Early Head Start, and local and national data available on children’s development in early care and education programs for low-income families. This report concludes that Indiana’s Early Head Start and Head Start programs are indeed providing substantial benefits to children, families, and communities. The report summarizes the outcomes …

The Intersection Of Public Policy And Health Behavior Theory In The Physical Activity Arena, Genevieve Dunton, Michael Cousineau, Kim D. Reynolds

CGU Faculty Publications and Research

Background:

Policy strategies aimed at modifying aspects of the social, physical, economic, and educational environments have been proposed as potential solutions to the growing problem of physical inactivity. To develop effective physical activity policies in these and other areas, greater understanding of how and why policies successfully impact behavior change is needed.

Methods:

The current paper proposes a conceptual framework explaining how policy strategies map onto health behavior theoretical variables and processes thought to lead to physical activity change. This framework is used to make hypotheses about the potential effectiveness of different policy strategies.

Results:

Health behavior theories suggest that …

Avoiding Tough Policy Choices In An Influenza Pandemic: The Role Of Kettl's Rocket Science Model In Public Health, Danny Lambert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The security and social inequality approaches to public health present distinct answers to policy objectives relative to a pandemic. However, each approach leaves us with tough choices between the most valued objectives. I demonstrate how the networked approach, which Kettl's Rocket Science Model (RSM) exemplifies, does not leave us with such choices. Furthermore, I connect the epidemiological concepts public health practitioners apply toward communicable disease pandemics to RSM concepts. Finally, drawing on the disease parameters of a worst-case scenario influenza pandemic, I demonstrate how the networked approach helps public health practitioners expand capacity such that tough choices are unnecessary.

Uncompensated Care And Quality Assurance Among Rural Hospitals, Doohee Lee, Chris Dixon, Paul Kruszynski, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

Health care disparities in rural areas remain significant in the U.S. health care industry. Uncompensated care makes health care disparities in rural areas worse, and rural hospitals are unfavorably positioned to compete with urban hospitals in the economic-downturn marketplace. How uncompensated care affects quality care among rural hospitals has been lightly investigated. Given that many rural residents experience difficulty accessing high quality care and given the importance of establishing quality care practice standards in a rural setting, we conducted a systematic literature review to identify some quality-care barriers and opportunities and suggested strategies to strengthen the position of rural hospitals …

The Social Determinants Of Health: Defining A Research Agenda For Canada’S Urban Aboriginal Population, Chantelle Richmond, Katie Big-Canoe

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Disproportionate And Unjustifiable: Teen First Nations Mothers And Unstated Paternity Policy, Michelle Mann

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Scientific Certainty In A Time Of Uncertainty: Predicting Vulnerability Of Canada’S First Nations To The H1n1/09 Pandemic, Nicholas Spence

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Issues In The Recruitment And Retention Of Aboriginal Health Research Participants In Canada, Victoria Nadalin, Marion Maar, Fred Ashbury, John Mclaughlin

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Towards The Adoption Of A National Aboriginal Health Policy, Josee G. Lavoie, Laverne Gervais

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Adapting And Developing Educational Best Practices And Curricula For Aboriginal Tobacco Cessation Interventions, Hillary Connolly, Jeff D'Hondt, Marilyn Herie, Peter Selby

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Contrasting Policies And Administration Of Sexually Transmitted Infection Programs In Saskatchewan First Nations And Alaska Native Communities, Rick Kotowich, Mike Fisher

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Cervical Cancer Screening Strategies For Aboriginal Women, Agnes T. Black

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Community Conditions As Factors Of Health, Economic Outlook, And Mobility: Survey Data And Aboriginal People In Manitoba, Christopher Adams

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Community Influences On The Mental Health Of First Nations Children In Canada: Health Information And Research Division, Statistics Canada, Dafna Kohen, Lisa Oliver

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Strengths-Based Programming For First Nations Youth In Schools: Building Engagement Through Healthy Relationships And Leadership Skills, Claire V. Crooks, Debbie Chiodo, Darren Thomas, Ray Hughes

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

FirstNationsyouthinCanadademonstratedisproportionatelyhighratesofnegative behaviors such as violence, substance abuse, and leaving school early. An understanding of historical context and current environment helps explain these patterns. Providing culturally relevant opportunities for youth to build healthy relationships and leadership skills has the potential to increase youth engagement. Over the past four years our multidisciplinary team of researchers, educators, program developers, and community leaders have worked together to develop a number of school-based initiatives that focus on increasing youth engagement through building on strengths and the promotion of healthy relationships. Specific strategies include peer mentoring, a credit-based academic course, and transition conferences for grade 8 …

The Role Of Medicaid In Promoting Access To High-Quality, High-Value Maternity Care, Anne R. Markus, Sara J. Rosenbaum

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

The main purpose of this article is to analyze and describe the role of Medicaid in facilitating access to care for pregnant women and ensuring high-quality maternity care that is affordable. It first summarizes the federal Medicaid requirements regarding eligibility, coverage of benefits, financing, and service delivery, with a special emphasis on existing quality provisions. Then, it discusses current issues and recommends several Medicaid reforms, particularly in the area of quality assessment and improvement. All reforms, including Medicaid reforms, should seek to support the IOM-identified aims. Much of the emphais in Medicaid policy development has been focused on access to …

The Diabetes Primary Prevention Initiative Interventions Focus Area: A Case Study And Recommendations, Deborah S. Porterfield, Laurie Hinnant, David M. Stevens, Ernest Moy, Dppi-Ifa Case Study Group

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

Background: In 2005, CDC began the Diabetes Primary Prevention Initiative Interventions Focus Area (DPPI-IFA), which funded fıve state Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs (DPCPs) to translate diabetes primary prevention trials into real-world settings by developing and implementing a framework for state-level diabetes primary prevention.

Purpose: The purpose of this case study, conducted in 2007, was to describe DPPI-IFA implementation, including facilitators and challenges to the initiative. Methods: Case studies of the fıve DPCPs in the DPPI-IFA involving site visits with key informant interviews of state staff and partners and archival record collection.

Results: Partners recruited for DPPI-IFA activities included …

The Health Information Technology Provisions In The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act Of 2009, Taylor Burke

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

This installment of Law and the Public’s Health explores the comprehensive reforms contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, whose implementation is expected to transform the use of health information technology as part of Medicare, Medicaid, and public health practice.

Can The Deployment Of Community Health Workers For The Delivery Of Hiv Services Represent An Effective And Sustainable Response To Health Workforce Shortages? Results Of A Multicountry Study, Francesca Celletti, Anna Wright, John Palen, Seble Frehywot, Anne R. Markus, Alan E. Greenberg, Rafael Augusto Teixeira De Aguiar, Francisco Campos, Eric Buch, Badara Samb

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

In countries severely affected by HIV/AIDS, shortages of health workers present a major obstacle to scaling up HIV services. Adopting a task shifting approach for the deployment of community health workers (CHWs) represents one strategy for rapid expansion of the health workforce. This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of CHWs with a focus on identifying the critical elements of an enabling environment that can ensure they provide quality services in a manner that is sustainable. The method of work included a collection of primary data in five countries: Brazil, Ethiopia, Malawi, Namibia, and Uganda. The findings show that delegation …