The State Coverage Initiatives (SCI) annual year-in-review report that tracks state progress to expand health insurance coverage is now available! State of the States 2006: Finding Their Own Way looks at the innovative efforts states have made to expand coverage amidst growing health care costs, and looks ahead to what challenges might arise in the coming year.
Key Findings:
- States are taking steps to expand coverage despite recurring challenges, such as a growing number of uninsured, escalating health care costs, and the lack of a national consensus on solutions for the uninsured.
- Many states are exploring new coverage strategies on their own – efforts to experiment and implement new programs are emerging as the fiscal crisis in states starts to improve.
- From public expansions to market-based strategies, state efforts are as varied as their populations, fiscal status, and political environment.
- Several new state programs were implemented in 2005. These may provide lessons about what types of strategies are able to meet the goals of expanding coverage while maintaining support within their state.
About the Report:
State of the States is produced by the State Coverage Initiatives program, a national initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation administered by AcademyHealth.
Hard Copies:
Copies of the report are available by contacting Heather Smithco at 202.292.6700 or heather.smithco@academyhealth.org.
Online:
http://www.statecoverage.net/pdf/stateofstates2006.pdf
