Recent Events

November 2011

At Women In Government's Second Annual Healthcare Summit, we featured the results of our Healthcare Reform Survey again. Women In Government conducted a national survey on healthcare reform in order to better understand legislators’ approaches to the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The survey determined the challenges and questions legislators have had as states move forward with implementation of the new federal legislation. Brenda Wigger, the Senior Vice President of Voter/Consumer Research, reported on the findings of the survey. To learn more about her presentation, please view it here.

October 2011

Results from Women In Government’s Healthcare Reform Survey
At Women In Government's Healthcare Reform Task Force, we featured the results of our Healthcare Reform Survey. Women In Government conducted a national survey on healthcare reform in order to better understand legislators’ approaches to the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The survey determined the challenges and questions legislators have had as states move forward with implementation of the new federal legislation. Brenda Wigger, the Senior Vice President of Voter/Consumer Research, reported on the findings of the survey. To learn more about her presentation, please view it here.

An Update of State-Level Implementation of Healthcare Reform
Another session featured Debbie Witchey, the Executive Vice President of the Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC). She spoke about her work at HLC, which is a coalition of chief executives of the nation's leading healthcare companies and organizations. In her position, she serves as chief operating officer and lobbyist for the organization whose mission is to advance a quality-driven healthcare system built upon the tenets of innovation and value. At Women In Government's Healthcare Reform Task Force she provided an update on the status of state-level implementation of healthcare reform, including what states have already completed through legislation and regulation, as well as a general information on the timelines and deadlines states are facing in 2012 and coming years. To view her presentation, please click here.

High-Risk Pools: What States Need to Know
This segment at the Healthcare Reform Task Force featured two speakers who discussed high-risk pools and the impact of healthcare reform implementation on the states, including what will happen with enrollees in states with high-risk pools, where those being served will obtain health coverage, the type of health coverage that can be expected, and the impact to the states losing their high-risk pools. The first speaker, Amie Goldman, spoke about her work in Wisconsin and provided a case study example of how one state has handled the implementation of healthcare reform. Ms. Goldman has 15 years experience in healthcare financing, policy, and administration. Currently, Ms. Goldman is Chief Executive Officer of the Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan (HIRSP) Authority of Wisconsin. In this role, she directs Wisconsin’s $200 million high-risk health insurance pool. To view her presentation, please click here. The second speaker, Vicki Perry, gave a more broad introduction to the implementation process, and spoke about her experience with it in Indiana. Vicki Perry currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of ADVANTAGE Health Solutions, Inc. She has been involved in the healthcare industry for more than 30 years and is responsible for the start of ADVANTAGE in May 2000. To view her presentation, please click here.

Overview of State-by-State Implementation of Insurance Exchanges
The Healthcare Reform Task Force featured a panel presentation on state-by-state implementation of insurance exchanges. This overview session provided a big picture understanding of insurance exchanges, highlight the decision points states are facing, and reported on the status of implementation to date. Maria Schiff spoke about her work in Massachusetts, where she was the first Director of Commonwealth Care for a Medicaid managed care organization in Massachusetts. Commonwealth Care is the expansion insurance program for previously uninsured individuals up to 300% of Federal Poverty Level created by that state’s 2006 health reform law. Prior to that she worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a Health Policy Director in the Division of Health Care Finance & Policy for eleven years where she participated in the conceptualization of and planning for Massachusetts’ landmark 2006 health reform legislation. To view her presentation, please click here. The second speaker, Joy Johnson Wilson, spoke about her work as the Health Policy Director for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). NCSL represents the legislatures of the 50 states, its commonwealths, territories and the District of Columbia. As Health Policy Director, Ms. Wilson designs and implements the lobbying strategy for the conference on healthcare issues.  To view her presentation, please click here.

Case Studies: State Implementation of Health Insurance Exchanges
In conjunction with the panel session on the overview of state-by-state implementation of insurance exchanges, the Healthcare Reform Task Force featured presentations on case studies. The speakers discussed specific examples of how different states have handled the establishment, design, and implementation of health insurance exchanges. Cheryl Smith spoke about her work in the development and implementation of health insurance exchanges, having played a central role in Utah’s Health Insurance Exchange, one of only two functioning state health insurance exchanges in the country. She currently works as a Director at Leavitt Partners and helps guide the firm’s health insurance exchange practice. She emphasized that legislators should not dawdle, now is the time to act. To view her presentation, please click here. Cindy Gillespie, the Managing Director, Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP spoke about her experience as counselor to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney where she was a key adviser to the Governor. and played a leading role in the development of Massachusetts health insurance reform. She also spoke about her current experience and focus on healthcare and health insurance reform where she advises clients on long-term market opportunities and business strategies. As part of her practice, she assists clients in developing and implementing legislative, regulatory, and political strategies to successfully weather the ever-changing federal and state healthcare policy landscapes. She encouraged legislators to find their own way, not to feel obligated to follow a plan that may not work for their state, and find the best plan that will work for each state's needs. To view her presentation, please click here.

Updating State Departments of Insurance for Implementation
Sally McCarty, the Director of Rate Review for the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight, spoke at Women In Government's Healthcare Reform Task Force. Her presentation featured a discussion on the implications of healthcare reform on the operations and structure of state departments of insurance. She provided information on the kinds of changes states might need to consider when updating the structure of and authority given to state departments of insurance in order to effectively and efficiently implement healthcare reform.

Case Studies: Pilot Programs & Demonstrations
These case studies on pilot programs and demonstrations highlighted medical innovations and healthcare reform. The panelists discussed their individual state's efforts, and how legislators can use these examples to make plans for their states. Liza Fox-Wylie spoke about her work as the Policy Director for Colorado Regional Health Information Organization and her presentation is available here. Lisa Dulsky Watkins, MD, the Associate Director of Vermont Blueprint for Health Department for the Vermont Health Access Agency of Human Services spoke about her work with the implementation in Vermont. To learn more, please view her presentation here.