Key Health Sessions at NCSL's Legislative Summit

This year, NCSL's annual meeting of legislators and staff included a packed agenda of leading health experts, bringing the latest information from the states, the federal government, the professional community and the private sector.  For members not able to attend the meeting in Louisville, NCSL health staff made an extra effort to capture and post online the full content of most sessions.  This includes full video or audio plus PowerPoint presentation slides for at least 38 presenters speaking at 22 separate sessions.  The meeting began with a unique "Health Summit" all-day preconference, attended by more than 300 participants.

Suggestions for use: Each session has a separate web page link with more details and video files.  Most slides are provided in  PDF format so you can view them online, print on your own printer, download to your own computer or share with colleagues.  Video or audio require media player programs commonly available at no charge.

 Select by Date:    Sunday, July 25, 2010  |  Monday, July 26, 2010 |  Tuesday, July 27, 2010  |  Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Welcome & Overview by Leaders (Includes video)

Senator Don Balfour, Georgia; Senator Richard T. Moore, Massachusetts; moderated by Representative Peggy Welch, Indiana

Who Goes Where and Why--The Nuts and Bolts of the New Health Law (Includes video)
Listen to a brief overview of the key provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

Speaker: Joy Johnson Wilson, NCSL Health Policy Director, "Powerpoint" ( PDF file); Facilitator: Representative Peggy Welch, Indiana.

Health Insurance Exchanges - Part 1 &  Part 2 (Includes video)
Health Insurance Exchanges will be the central marketplace for tens of millions of Americans to select and sign up for health coverage, beginning January 2014.  The state and federal planning and implementation steps actually begin much sooner, in 2011.    

Speakers:Jon Kingsdale, Former Director, Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority, Massachusetts,"Powerpoint" (10-page PDF file); Senator Richard T. Moore, chair, Health Care Financing Committee, Massachusetts, "Powerpoint" (6-page PDF file); Speaker David Clark, House of Representatives, Utah, "Powerpoint" (17-page PDF file); Dan Schuyler and Cheryl Smith, Utah Health Exchange, Utah; Facilitator: Mark Andrews, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, Utah

State Flexibility--Compacts, Basic Health Plans and Waivers (Working Lunch) (Includes video)
This session reviews state flexibility in federal health reform, with an emphasis on insurance provisions.  The presenter, from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), has been helping to coordinate state agency responses to the Affordable Care Act. 

Panelist: Joshua Goldberg, NAIC, Washington, D.C., "Powerpoint" (9-page PDF File); Jay Angoff,  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.; Facilitator: Senator Judy Lee, North Dakota

Workforce and Access Issues - Part 1 and Part 2 (Includes video)
The 2010 Health reform law will provide coverage to approximately 32 million uninsured Americans, beginning  in 2014. The Affordable Care Act contains provisions to strengthen the health workforce so states can meet the growing need. Learn about innovative existing state programs, and options for expanding the health workforce.

Speakers: Michael Karpf, UK HealthCare, Kentucky; Keith Mueller, Department of Health Management and Policy, Iowa, "Powerpoint" ( 11-page PDF file); William Wagner, Family Health Centers Inc., Kentucky, "Powerpoint" ( 6-page PDF file); Facilitator: Representative Elaine Harvey, Wyoming

Public Health and Disease Prevention (Includes video)
The Affordable Care Act contains several prevention and public health provisions intended to improve health and reduce the nation's expensive chronic disease burden, highlighted in this session.

Speakers: Sharon Moffatt, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Virginia, "Powerpoint" (20-page PDF File); Adewale Troutman, Louisville Metro Health Department, Kentucky; Facilitator: Miriam Fordham, Health and Welfare Committee, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky

Medicaid Update (Includes video)
The nation's top official administering Medicaid explains the latest steps, including requirements and state options.

Speaker: Cindy Mann, Deputy Administrator and Director, Center for Medicaid, CHIP and Survey and Certification, Centers for Medicaid and Medicaid (CMS) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Maryland, "Powerpoint" (9-page PDF file); Facilitator: Senator Jeremy Nordquist, Nebraska

Fiscal Implications of Health Reform (Includes video)
With dozens of new federal law requirements and state options, those responsible for planning and writing state budgets have been working extra hours to analyze how much each state stands to gain, or have to appropriate, to make the diverse parts of health reform work.  California fiscal staff explained their approach as one of the first to publish a state-specific report,  "Evaluating State Fiscal Implications of the Affordable Care Act."

Speakers: Lisa Murawski and Meridith K. Wurden, Legislative Analyst’s Office, California: "Powerpoint" (8-page PDF file); Facilitator: Nolan Langweil, Joint Fiscal Office, Vermont.

Monday, July 26, 2010

State Initiatives on School Nutrition and Physical Education
The Legislative Education Staff Network and Legislative Health Staff Network hosted this session to highlight various state initiatives on school nutrition and physical education.

Speakers: Miriam Fordham, Health and Welfare Committee, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky, "PowerPoint"  (9-page PDF file); Cheryl Reinhart, General Assembly, Arkansas, "PowerPoint" (14-page PDF file); Amy Winterfeld, NCSL, "PowerPoint" (38-page PDF file);  Moderator: Paul Aguilar, Legislative Finance Committee, New Mexico. 

Providing Cost-Effective Care Through Medical Homes
The medical home model of care is designed to provide comprehensive and efficient care centered on the patient's needs. Learn about the purpose and functions of the medical home, opportunities for states within health reform to develop medical home programs and hear from legislators about state programs and innovations.

Speakers: Fan Tait, MD, American Academy of Pediatrics, Illinois, "Powerpoint" (49-page PDF file); Senator Linda L. Berglin, Minnesota, "Powerpoint" (4-page PDF file), MN handout (2-page PDF file); Representative Mark McCullough, Oklahoma; Facilitator: Miriam Fordham, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky.

The Innovator's Prescription: A Disruptive Solution to the Health Care Crisis
Government can help more people afford health care, but it hasn't yet made health care more affordable. The speaker prposed a different kind of innovation to lower costs and increase access to care.

Speaker: Jason Hwang, Healthcare, Innosight Institute, California - "PowerPoint" (11-page PDF File); Respondent: Michael Rust, President, Kentucky Hospital Association; Facilitator: Mark Andrews, staff, Utah Legislature.

Preventable Injuries Burden State Budgets
Injuries are the leading cause of death for people age 1 to 44, and cost an estimated $406 billion a year in medical expenses and lost productivity. Nearly 50 million injuries occur each year, placing a staggering burden on the U.S. health care system. States feel the burden through Medicaid, state employee health benefits, health care for the uninsured, child welfare services, and lost tax revenue from the injured and their caregivers.

Speakers: Susan Hardman, Bureau of Injury Prevention, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, New York - "Powerpoint" (11-page PDF File); Laura Tobler, NCSL Staff, "Powerpoint" (9-page PDF File); Facilitator: Representative Pat George, Kansas

Savings from Smoking Cessation in Medicaid Programs (Includes video)
Medical costs for tobacco users are known to be higher than for the general population. States with comprehensive tobacco cessation benefits in Medicaid may see both long-term and immediate cost savings. Find out how states are realizing significant savings in their programs.

Speakers: Representative Bob DeWeese, Kentucky; Senator Richard T. Moore, Massachusetts, "Powerpoint"  (5-page PDF file); Roger Snow, Office of Medicaid and Commonwealth Medicine, Massachusetts, "Powerpoint"  (11-page PDF file); Facilitator: Representative Peggy Welch, Indiana

Hospital Acquired Infections: States and Public Reporting
Healthcare associated infections (HAI) cause nearly 100,000 deaths and cost states billions of dollars each year. A growing number of states have passed laws requiring health care facilities to publicly report infections, and in 2009, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) provided $50 million to support these efforts and prevention initiatives. This session discussed the latest trends in public reporting and progress in HAI prevention.

Speakers: Elizabeth Skillen, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "PowerPoint" (29-page PDF file); Deborah Sward, NCSL Staff, "PowerPoint" (8-page PDF file); Moderator:  Nolan Langweil, Joint Fiscal Office, Vermont General Assembly.

Taming Health Costs: States Making a Difference (Includes video)
States are struggling to rein in health costs and promote more efficiency, knowing that health spending accounts for more than 30 percent of many state budgets. Legislatures have suggested a variety of promising practices that could produce short-term savings, or "bend the cost curve" toward affordability while implementing long-term health reforms. Hear highlights on payment reform and other legislative perspectives from NCSL's health cost containment project.

Changing the Course of Delinquency (Includes audio)
Foster children, juvenile delinquents, teen parents, dropouts—how do we improve the lives of kids? Health, education and families are key. A leading national expert will share innovative and cost-saving ways to improve the lives of young people through prevention and early intervention, with a focus on collaboration across systems such as juvenile justice and child welfare.

Speakers: Shay Bilchik, Center for Juvenile Justice Reform, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., "Powerpoint" ( 20-page PDF file); Respondents: Senator Thomas C. Owens, Kansas; Senator Brenda J. Council, Nebraska; Representative John J. DeBerry Jr., Tennessee; Facilitator: Senator Judy Lee, North Dakota.

Investing in Children's Health (Includes video)
State lawmakers seek cost-effective solutions to control health spending. Investing in prevention and health care for children saves states money. Learn about promising practices and comprehensive approaches that coordinate programs and services.

Speaker: Michael Fraser, PhD, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Washington, D.C., "Powerpoint"( 14-page PDF file), "Powerpoint" ( 3-page PDF file); Respondents: Senator Karen Keiser, Washington; "Powerpoint"( 6-page PDF file); Representative Melvin J. Neufeld, Kansas; Facilitator: Miriam Fordham, Health and Welfare Committee, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky

Constitutional Issues and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)
Since passage of the federal health reform laws in March, questions have been raised about the constitutionality of some key provisions, including the requirement that most people have health insurance and the expansion of who is entitled to Medicaid. Explore and discuss these key constitutional questions and review pending challenges to the new laws.

Speaker: James Blumstein, Vanderbilt University School of Law, Tennessee - "Powerpoint" (18-page PDF File);  NCSL handout.

The Future of Nursing and Primary Care: Implications for States
Learn about the upcoming Institute of Medicine report on nursing, and issues that affect states, including scope of practice and educational capacity.

Speakers: Tine Hansen-Turton, National Nursing Centers Consortium, Pennsylvania, "Powerpoint" (43-page PDF File)  
Susan Hassmiller, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, New Jersey, "Powerpoint" (31-page PDF File)  

Exchanging Health Information: Making It Work
This session convened NCSL's Health Information Technology Champions and other interested legislators and staff to discuss privacy issues, regulatory options and interstate relations. The discussion focused on how health information exchange is integral to health reform.

Speaker: Patricia MacTaggart, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, D.C., "PowerPoint" (16-page PDF File); Moderator: Senator Richard T. Moore, Massachusetts 

Achieving Value and Cost Effective Care in Today's Health Care Climate (Includes audio)
Dr. Brent James, internationally known for his work in clinical quality improvement and patient safety, talked about how improving health quality provides better patient care and saves costs. With states battling budget deficits and rising health care costs, learning about effective methods to provide the right care at the right time will improve the bottom line, including for Medicaid and state employee health plans.

Speaker: Brent James, Intermountain Health Care, Utah, "Surviving Health Care Reform" (20-page PDF File); Facilitator: Representative David Clark, Speaker of the House, Utah.

Information Exchange in Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs
This session discussed how states can exchange information through prescription drug monitoring programs to prevent people crossing state lines to obtain prescriptions. These programs can combat prescription drug abuse and doctor shopping, but since there is no national program, single states have a limited effect. Participants learned how neighboring states have worked together to increase the effectiveness of these drug monitoring programs.

Speakers: Sherry Green, National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws, Virginia, "Powerpoint" (19-page PDF File); David Hopkins, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Kentucky, "Powerpoint" (21-page PDF File); Senator Evan H. Jenkins, West Virginia State Medical Association; Senator Vicki Schmidt, Assistant Majority Leader, Kansas State Senate, "Powerpoint" (11-page PDF File); Moderator: Miriam Fordham, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky.