Sponsored by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's State Coverage Initiatives Program
Conducted by AcademyHealth

Thursday, July 19, 2001

Session 1. Welcome and Introductory Remarks

Presenters:

• Pamela S. Dickson
  Senior Program Officer, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• W. David Helms
  President, AcademyHealth

Session 2. Trends in Employer-Based Coverage

Facilitator:

• W. David Helms
  

Presenters:

• Jon R. Gabel
  Vice President, Health Systems Studies, Health Research and Educational Trust, American Hospital Association
  Slides: "Tracking Health Care Costs: Inflation Returns"
• Len M. Nichols
  Principal Research Associate, The Urban Institute
  Slides: "Employer and Employee Demand for Health Insurance: What We Know and Don't Know"

Questions & Answers

Session 3. Overview of State Policy Options

Presenter:

• Benjamin P. Wheatley
  Senior Associate, AcademyHealth
  Slides: "Building on Employer-Based Coverage: State Strategies"

Session 4. Premium Assistance Programs: Design Issues

Facilitator:

• Anne K. Gauthier
  Vice President, AcademyHealth

Presenters:

• John Santa
  Administrator, Office for Oregon Health Plan Policy and Research
  Slides: "Lessons Learned: The Family Health Insurance Assistance Program"
• Barbara Ladon
  Director, Office of Program Development, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
  Slides: "Colorado CHP+ Employer Buy-In Feasibility Study: The State's Perspective"
• Cheryl Austein Casnoff
  Director, Division of Benefits Coverage & Payment, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
  Slides: "Premium Assistance Programs"

Questions & Answers

Session 5. Premium Assistance Programs: Implementation Issues

Facilitator:

• Benjamin P. Wheatley

Presenters:

• Donald Schnieder
  Coordinator of Benefits Section Chief (BadgerCare), Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services
  Slides: "BadgerCare"
• Kate Brewster
  Employer Contact Unit Manager (RIte Share), Center for Child and Family Health, Rhode Island Department of Human Services
  Slides: "RIte Share Premium Assistance Program"
• Dennis Doderer
  Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Premium Assistance and Support, New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services
  Slides: "NJ FamilyCare/Premium Support Program (PSP): An Overview & Comments on Implementation Issues"

Questions & Answers

Session 6. Subsidizing Employers Directly to Improve Offer Rates

Facilitator:

• Jeremy J. Alberga
  Associate, AcademyHealth
  

Presenters:

• Charles Cook
  Director, Insurance Partnership, Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance
  Slides: "The Massachusetts Experience: Utilizing Titles XIX and XXI to Expand Coverage Through Employer-Sponsored Insurance"
  
• James Schwartz
  Executive Director, Alliance Employee Health Access (Kansas)
  Slides: "The Kansas Tax Credit for Newly Insured Small Groups"

Questions & Answers

Friday, July 20, 2001

Session 8: How Can We Make Purchasing Pools Work?

Presenter/Facilitator:

• Richard E. Curtis
  President, Institute for Health Policy Solutions
  Slides: "How Can We Make Purchasing Pools Work?"
  

Respondents:

• Sandra L. Shewry
  Executive Director, California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board
  Slides: "Purchasing Pools"
  
• Ree Sailors
  Executive Policy Advisor, Washington Governor's Executive Policy Office
  Slides: "How Can We Make Purchasing Pools Work?"

Session 9. Insurance Market Reforms and Indirect Subsidies

Presenter/Facilitator:

• Deborah J. Chollet
  Senior Fellow, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
  Slides: "Insurance Market Reforms and Indirect Subsidies"
  

Presenters:

• Leigh Cheatham
  Executive Director, Arizona Health Care Group
  Slides: "Arizona's Healthcare Group & Premium Sharing Program"
• Anthony Cresho
  Attorney, New York Department of Insurance
  Slides: "Healthy NY"

Questions & Answers

Subsidizing Employer-Based Coverage:
State Reports & Resources