Health Policy Challenges Ahead Ryan Sullivan Michigan Consumers for Healthcare

MEDICAID  Medicaid Expansion implementation  Gathering data  Working with responsible departments to create a positive consumer experience and decrease consumer wait times  Monitoring the consumer and provider experiences  Participating in policy discussion at the national level regarding waivers to come  Better enrollment process (e.g. SNAP)

Essential Health Benefits  opportunity to review Essential Health Benefits and determine how the states’ benchmarks are working  Whether we include add’l benefits, such as adult dental  This is a long, complex process that depends on the Sec’y of HHS, our state’s insurance regulator (DIFS), and CONSUMERS and their ADVOCATES!

CHIP Reauthorization  CHIP (MIChild) will be a target for cuts, yet despite ACA reforms, it is still a crucial part of the insurance landscape for working families  CHIP helps address some of the unintended consequences of the ACA for working families to ensure their children remain covered at affordable prices

Dual Eligibility  Work is underway to improve quality of care for the Duals population (people who are eligible to receive both Medicaid and Medicare benefits)  Complex projects are underway to reform the way these programs work together and CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT will be crucial

Health Care Costs  New models of care and ways to lower costs  Consumer advocates have a unique role to play in teaching newly covered individuals (e.g. when and where to access care)  Improving transparency  RATE REVIEW (STAY WITH ME, PLEASE!)

Improving Care, Safety  Improving the quality of care, reducing medical errors and unnecessary procedures  Understanding the nexus between quality care, lowering costs, and

Consumer Behavior  Empowering consumers and helping them learn were to go for help  Educating consumers about their new coverage: where, when, how?  Health literacy

WHAT DO YOU SEE AHEAD?