2011 Legislative Summit Health Sessions

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

 To view PDF files, use or install Adobe Acrobat Reader.   

Sunday, August 7

An Introduction to Biologic Medicines   

A program for health staff, focused on both science and policy issues related to biologic medicines, and how they fit in the spectrum of medical and pharmaceutical treatments. The program included a welcome from Texas Senator Leticia Van de Putte, a pharmacist for more than 31 years who represents a large portion of San Antonio. Geoffrey Eich, of Amgenl provided programmatic information.

Speakers:
Senator Leticia Van de Putte, former President of NCSL (2006-07), San Antonio, Texas
Geoffrey Eich, an executive director at Amgen, California - "Powerpoint" (PDF file-10 pages)

This program was made possible by Amgen, with funding through NCSL’s Foundation for State Legislatures, facilitated by the NCSL Health Program. 

Additional Resource: 

NCSL Federal Health Reform Implementation Task Force

Receive updates on: regulatory and timetable challenges in implementing the Affordable Care Act; the issues surrounding and the roles of insurance brokers, agents and navigators; how to address churning, unified coverage and basic health plans under health insurance exchanges; and exchanges for small businesses (SHOP Act).

Presiding Co-Chairs:
Assemblyman Herb C. Conaway, Jr., New Jersey
Representative Greg D. Wren, Alabama

Speakers:
Dan Anglin,  Government Affairs Representative, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, Denver, Colorado  - "Powerpoint" (PDF file-13 pages)
Joel Ario, Director, Health Insurance Exchange Group, Center for Consumer Information and Insurance, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CCIIO/CMS), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Maryland
Matthew Buettgens, Senior Research Methodologist, Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.  - "Powerpoint" (PDF file-22 pages) 
Representative David Clark,  Former House Speaker (2008-2011), Utah  - "Powerpoint" (PDF file-7 pages)
DeAnn Friedholm, Health Care Reform Director, Consumers Union, Austin, Texas  - "Powerpoint" (PDF file-19 pages) 
Joshua Goldberg, Health Policy and Legislative Analyst, National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Washington, D.C. - "Powerpoint" (PDF file-20 pages) 
Neil Sullivan, Assistant Commissioner for Life and Health, New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, New Jersey  "Powerpoint" (PDF file-5 pages) 
Jessica Waltman,  Senior V-P, Government Affairs, National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), Virginia - "Powerpoint" (PDF file-19 pages) 

Health and Human Services Federal Update

Moderators:
Miriam Fordham, Health and Welfare Committee, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky
Elaine Zimmerman, Commission on Children, Connecticut
 

Speakers:
Joy Johnson Wilson, NCSL
Marjorie McColl Petty, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Texas
Sheri Steisel, NCSL

Health Committee Business Meeting
The committee considered and voted on health policy.

Moderator:
Senator Jeremy J. Nordquist, Nebraska

Tuesday, August 9

Bullying, Schools and Mental Health

This special session for legislative staff working on health and education issues will provide the opportunity for networking and explore the issue of bullying from both the health and education perspectives.

Moderator:
Cheryl Reinhart, Legislative Research Bureau, Arkansas

Speaker:
Joseph Wright, The Child Health Advocacy Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, D.C

Filling the Gap in the Primary Care Workforce

Explore different approaches states have taken to strengthen and expand their primary care workforce, which includes primary care physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses and care coordinators. This has included reforming education and scope-of-practice requirements to allow mid-level providers to fill some of the needs.

Presiding:
Representative Peggy M. Welch, Indiana

Panelists:
Catherine Dower, UCSF Center for Health Professions, California
Roland Goertz, American Academy of Family Physicians, Texas

Medicaid Home and Community-Based Care: A Critical Piece of the Medicaid Puzzle

Learn about new resources available from the federal government and some successful state initiatives in home and community-based care for Medicaid patients.

Moderator:
Senator Betty Boyd, Colorado

Panelists:
Timothy Engelhardt, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, Washington, D.C.
Lex Frieden, University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Biomedical Informatics, Texas

Health Insurance Exchanges

In fewer than three years, the Affordable Care Act requires 19 million people to become insured for the first time. Before 2014, state lawmakers need to decide whether to offer an exchange, who will run it, how it will work with insurers and how it will be funded. A constructive discussion is promised.

Moderator:
Representative Elaine D. Harvey, Wyoming

Speaker:
Joel Ario, Director, Health Insurance Exchange Group, Center for Consumer Information and Insurance, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CCIIO/CMS), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Maryland

Evidence-Based Care: Better Bang for the Buck?  (click here for audio online)

Evidence-based health care is getting a lot of attention as a way to control costs and increase quality. But what does "evidence-based" mean? And why are some questioning this approach? Hear state and national experts discuss the use of the concept in funding options in the Affordable Care Act, current federal initiatives and state policies and how its over-use might be problematic.

Moderator:
Senator Karen Keiser, Washington

Speakers:
Natalie Carroll, MD, Assoicate Clinical Instructor, University of Texas Health Science Center; past president of the National Medical Association, 2002-03 "Powerpoint" ( PDF file-10 pages)
Carolyn Clancy, MD, Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ/HHS), Maryland - "Powerpoint" ( PDF file-12 pages)
Mark Gibson, Deputy Director, Center for Evidence-Based Policy at the Oregon Health and Science University- "Powerpoint" ( PDF file-12 pages)

Medicaid Managed Care

What helps ensure a Medicaid managed care program will succeed? Learn what elements all successful programs have in common.

Moderator:
Nolan Langweil, Joint Fiscal Office, Vermont

Speakers:
Jane Beyer, House of Representatives, Washington - "Powerpoint" ( PDF file-6 pages)
Neva Kaye, National Academy For State Health Policy, Maine - "Powerpoint" ( PDF file-7 pages)

Wednesday, August 10

States Opting Out: Health Reform Challenges, Waivers and Alternatives  (click here for audio online)

The ink is dry but the action is intense, as some legislators debate using state laws, constitutions or courts to take on parts of the Affordable Care Act.. Hear two leading legal experts comment on constitutional principles and latest developments. Then hear responses from six health leaders in states that have enacted their own approaches – challenging and/or implementing reforms.    [CLE]

Speakers:
Bill McCollum, JD, Former Attorney General, Florida (2007-2011), SNR Denton US LLP, Washington, D.C.  - "Presentation outline" ( PDF file-2 pages)
Elizabeth Weeks Leonard, JD, Associate Professor of Law, University of Georgia; formerly University of Kansas  - "Powerpoint" ( PDF file-5 pages)
"PDF File Handout" ( PDF file-4 pages)

Respondents:
Senator Nancy K. Barto, Chair, Senate Health Care and Medical Liability Comm., Arizona  - "Powerpoint" ( PDF file-2 pages)
Senator Betty Boyd, President Pro-tem; Chair, Senate Health and Human Services Comm., Colorado  - "Powerpoint" ( PDF file-2 pages)
Representative Timothy N. Brown, Chair, House Public Health Comm, Indiana
Representative David Clark,  Former House Speaker (2008-2011); Chair, Exec. Appropriations-Social Services Sub-Comm.,  Utah    - "Powerpoint" ( PDF file-5 pages)
Senator Judy Lee, Vice-Chair NCSL Health Comm., North Dakota
Representative Elizabeth B. Ritter, Chair, Joint Comm. on Public Health,  Connecticut

Co-Moderators:
Representative Cindy Rosenwald, New Hampshire House; Vice-Chair, NCSL Health Comm.
Representative Greg D. Wren, Alabama House; Co-Chair, NCSL Task Force on Federal Health Reform Implementation

Resources:
" Biography Sheet" (PDF file-3 pages)
Some States Pursue Health Compacts - Handout (PDF file-1 page)
Challenging Certain Health Reforms, State Actions 2011 - NCSL Report: 17 states now have binding measures seeking to prevent state involvement in requiring individuals and employers to purchase health insurance; 30 others considered and rejected such legislation in 2010.  Recent court actions also are listed as of August 2011.
 

The ABC's of Healthcare Delivery Models: New Approaches to Generating Savings and Improving Quality

New health care delivery systems spell savings for legislators interested in curbing costs through Accountable Care Organizations and Patient Centered Medical Homes.

Moderator:
Miriam Fordham, Health and Welfare Committee, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky

Speakers:
Mark McClellan, Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform, The Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C. - "Powerpoint" ( PDF file-26 pages)
Patrick Blair, AMERIGROUP Community Care, New York - "Powerpoint" ( PDF file-10 pages)

States Transforming Medicaid

Global and 1115 waivers, medical homes, care management, payment reform, and home and community-based care are old ideas taking on a whole new life.

This session with video and audio is available on-demand.

Facilitator:
Representative Peggy M. Welch, Indiana

Panelists:
Andy Allison, Health Care Finance, Kansas
Cindy Mann, Center for Medicaid and State Operations, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Maryland
Billy Millwee, State of Texas, Department of State Health Services
Carol Steckel, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

Resources: 
"Questions and Answers  Sheet" (PDF file-8 pages)

Thursday, August 11

Here and Now: States Respond to Health Insurance Reform  (click here for audio online)

Sixteen months into federal health reform, states are responding in different ways–some relying on existing laws, some creating new state policies, while others let the federal government initiate programs. These "market reforms" include coverage for adult dependents, patients with pre-existing conditions and early-retirees, as well as expanded consumer protections, premium rate review and medical loss ratios.

Moderator:
Senator Jeremy J. Nordquist, Nebraska; Chair, NCSL Health Committee

Speakers:
Gary Cohen, Director, Oversight Group, CCIIO, Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS/HHS), Maryland
Kim Holland, Executive Director for State Affairs, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), Washington, D.C. - "Powerpoint" (PDF file-3 pages)
Commissioner Sandy Praeger, Kansas Insurance Department, Kansas; Chair NAIC Health Insurance and Managed Care Committee - "Powerpoint"  (PDF file-13 pages)

Resources:
"Biography Sheet" (PDF file-2 pages)
Health Insurance Reform Enacted Laws Related to the ACA, 2011. -tracking the new state laws implementing early market reforms, in 37 states as of August 2011.

Medicaid Block Grants: How Would They Work?

Predictability, stability, flexibility. These are all the claimed benefits of turning Medicaid payments into a block grant. What needs to happen for these benefits to be realized? Explore the options and challenges states may face if the Medicaid program is transformed into a block grant.

Speaker:
Joy Johnson Wilson, NCSL

Policy Options for Expanding the Oral Health Workforce  (click here for audio online)

Explore a variety of policy options to ensure patients receive good dental care. Discover new state initiatives working to increase the number of dentists and create a new mid-level dental providers. Experts in children’s dental health and state legislators will share their state experiences.

Moderator:
Representative Kenneth Guy Summers, Colorado

Speakers:
James Crall, UCLA School of Dentistry, California - "Powerpoint"  (PDF file-11 pages)
Julie Stitzel, Pew Children's Dental Campaign, The Pew Center On the States, Washington, D.C. - "Powerpoint" ( PDF file-16 pages)

Respondents:
Representative Bob Bethell, Kansas
Representative Elizabeth B. Ritter, Connecticut