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

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's State Coverage Initiatives (SCI) program held its national workshop for state officials on July 17-18, 2003.

This workshop was a continuation of an ongoing discussion we've had with state officials over the past year. Last July, we witnessed states beginning to brace themselves for the downward spiral of state budgets. Since then, difficult decisions including cutting eligibility and benefits in public programs have become the reality.

This workshop explored what form future "reforms" might take, state premium assistance programs, restructured benefit packages, high cost populations, state insurance markets and evidence-based models. Speakers included national experts and state policymakers.

Objectives

• Hear health policy experts' assessment and concerns regarding the future of reform and the implications for states.
  
• Convey a broad overview of how states are faring in fiscally challenging times.
  
• Learn how states' ESI programs are doing and how they are working with small businesses and insurance brokers.
  
• Examine the process behind the development, implementation, and evaluation of restructured benefit packages.
  
• Engage in a discussion with colleagues on pressing issues such as Medicaid reform, dual eligibles, improving data and administrative systems, etc.
  
• Discuss creative strategies for dealing with high cost services and populations.
  
• Examine private and public models using evidence-based medicine and its long-term applicability.