News & Bulletins Archive

The Hilltop Institute sponsored a day-long symposium to explore three major areas of policy innovation to improve access to and utilization of oral health care: integration of dental and medical service delivery; dental workforce issues; and health education and outreach strategies. The day was divided into four sessions and highlighted by a keynote address, a luncheon address, and concluding reflections. Over 130 policymakers, health services researchers, and health care practitioners from across the country, including the leading experts in the field, participated in the event. Learn more about the symposium.

The Center is collaborating with the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University and the UMBC Public Policy Department on an NIMH funded project to study the cost and quality implications of payment for psychiatric services. Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) are commonly used to pay inpatient hospitals. However, most of inpatient psychiatric care is paid per diem. The research seeks to improve psychiatric DRGs, with billing and supplemental information from medical records, so that they can be used for payment purposes. The study will also provide insight into hospital quality performance under per case payment. Dr. Hamid Fakhraei is leading the Center’s research team.

The Center’s Executive Director, Chuck Milligan, participated in a panel discussion entitled How To Determine the Minimum Set of Required Benefits at a workshop conducted by the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices on March 27, 2008. The workshop, Defining Benefit Packages in Health and Medicaid Reform, addressed how states could define and develop benefit packages which address the unique needs of their Medicaid beneficiaries. Milligan’s presentation discussed how different policy approaches affect a state’s determination of the minimum set of benefits that it mandates, as well as cost implications for the state and for the beneficiaries. To view the presentation, click here.

The Center’s Executive Director Chuck Milligan and Director of Acute Care Policy Ann Volpel participated in separate panel discussions at the National Meeting for State Coverage Initiatives that was held February 6-8, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. Milligan participated on a panel addressing emerging issues in the Medicaid and SCHIP programs and gave a presentation on recent directions in broad national policy, their implications for states, trends in state activities, and reforms approved by CMS under the Deficit Reduction Act and Section 1115 Waiver programs. Volpel participated on a panel discussing how states have attempted to address access and affordability in the small group market and gave a presentation on the two reports the Center completed on marketing state coverage programs. To view the reports, click here.

In a new report prepared for the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission, the Hilltop Institute presents a financial portrait of Maryland’s school-based health centers, identifies barriers to reimbursement, and makes policy recommendations to expand access to school-based health centers, further develop the infrastructure and stabilize the financing of centers, and promote increased reimbursement. Report findings served as the basis for a Call for Proposals issued by the Commission in December 2007. To view the bulletin, click here.

The Center conducted a study to determine if the expansion of buprenorphine as a strategy for battling opioid addiction is cost-effective. Commissioned by the Baltimore City Health Department and funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the study used Medicaid data to examine health care service utilization differences between opioid addicts who were treated for their addiction versus those who went untreated, reviewed the literature, and estimated clinical and financial benefits and costs. The study’s results supported the value and effectiveness of opioid maintenance therapy (OMT), and suggested that expanding treatment access has the potential to reduce both individual suffering and the overall societal burden associated with opioid dependence without increasing the cost of medical care. The research also indicated that expanding OMT has the potential to save the publicly financed health care system money by reducing heroin-associated morbidity in Medicaid and other insured and uninsured populations. Researchers estimated the cost savings and found that Baltimore City could save over $4,000,000.00 per year if utilization of OMT were expanded. View the study’s five reports:

An Evaluation of Whether Medical Savings are Associated with Expanding Opioid Maintenance Therapy for Heroin Addiction in Baltimore City, August 28, 2007

Comparing Pre-Treatment to Post-Treatment Medicaid Utilization in Individuals who Enter Methadone Therapy, August 15, 2007

Opioid Exposure in Maryland Hospitals, July 2007

Review of Cost-Benefit and Cost-Effectiveness Literature for Methadone or Buprenorphine as a Treatment for Opiate Addiction, August 29, 2007

Heroin Addiction Treatment Correlates in Maryland, March 12, 2007

The Center, in partnership with the MD Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), has received funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Changes in Health Care Financing and Organization (HCFO) program to conduct a two-year study on the interactive effects of Medicare- and Medicaid-provided services, particularly with respect to rate-setting for coordinated/integrated programs of care for those who are enrolled under both programs (duals). The Center’s Tony Tucker headed up the development of the grant application and will serve as a co-principal investigator. Judy Kasper of Johns Hopkins University will also serve as a co-investigator. Tricia Roddy at DHMH will serve as the formal project director, which will ensure that the grant funds will generate matching federal funds to conduct the study.

The Center’s Executive Director, Chuck Milligan, presented information on the benefits of pursuing health insurance coverage for children and adolescents in Idaho on January 9 at the Cover Idaho Kids Coalition Meeting and Research Discussion. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson State Coverage Initiatives program administered by AcademyHealth, these presentations gave an overview of research and literature that shows the positive relationship between health insurance coverage and good health outcomes. Milligan discussed the benefits of coverage to the child, the family, the community, and the system: that insurance coverage allows children and their families to access health care earlier, which can prevent more serious health problems and illnesses, thereby avoiding the need to use more expensive services, such as emergency rooms. Laura Spicer, a research assistant at the Center, reviewed the literature for the presentations.

Chuck Milligan gave a brief presentation on October 18 at the Center for Medicare Advocacy’s conference, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans: A Beneficiary Perspective. The conference brought together beneficiary advocates, health policy advocates, researchers, SNP providers, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) officials, and Congressional staff. The conference proceedings were anchored by three background papers, two of which were written by Chuck Milligan and Cynthia Woodcock. Invitees discussed and framed a set of recommendations to present to Congress and CMS. To view Chuck’s presentation on connecting SNPs with state Medicaid programs, click here. To view the conference details and other materials, click here.

On June 12, 2007, the Center for Health Program Development and Management sponsored a symposium examining the evolving mental health system, how efforts to diffuse evidence-based practices and better coordinate services across agencies and branches of medicine are paying off, and the extent to which Medicaid managed care and other newer programming and financing strategies are helping transform the system. View the for the program and presentations.

The Center has produced a summary for the mental health symposium it hosted on June 12. This piece highlights the day’s proceedings, including a summary of each speaker’s presentation and overarching themes. Click here to read more on the events of Moving Forward: Designing and Financing Mental Health Services in an Era of Transformation.

On June 7, 2007, the Center for Health Program Development and Management, together with the UMBC Department of Public Policy, sponsored a public policy forum examining emergency room services in Maryland. Click here for the program and presentations.

Effective immediately, Ann Volpel has been selected to direct the Center’s Acute Care Policy Unit. Ms. Volpel, who joined the Center as a research analyst in 2001, will now be responsible for directing the Center’s work on Medicaid managed care policy, financing, and performance assessment, working with Maryland and other states. She will also manage the Center’s work related to behavioral health and state coverage initiatives. She succeeds John O’Brien, who left the Center in January to join the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission.

The Center for Health Program Development and Management has been providing strategic and analytical support to the federal Medicaid Commission and assisting with preparation of the Commission’s final report. On November 16, 2006, in Washington, Chuck Milligan, the Center’s executive director, delivered this presentation as part of the discussion of the Commission’s final report and recommendations:

Chairman’s Mark and Proposed Amendments

On November 28, 2006, the Medicaid Commission released its final recommendations.

Todd Eberly, a senior research analyst at the Center, has received the 2006 Annual Dissertation Award from the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) for his dissertation entitled, Managing the Gap: Evaluating the Impact of Medicaid Managed Care on Service Use and Disparities in Health Care Access. Dr. Eberly examined whether racial and ethnic minorities experience disparate access to preventive health services in Maryland Medicaid and whether Maryland ‘s transition to Medicaid managed care had an impact on disparities. He received a Ph.D. in Public Policy from UMBC this past spring.

Click here for the Policy Brief on Dr. Eberly’s Dissertation
Click here for Dr. Eberly’s Dissertation.