Author Archive: CHIR Faculty
Surprise Billing: Volume Of Cases Using Independent Dispute Resolution Continues Higher Than Anticipated

The No Surprises Act is largely working as intended to protect patients from unexpected medical bills. However, the rising number of Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) cases is creating challenges for the health care system. In a post for Health Affairs Forefront, Jack Hoadley and Kevin Lucia evaluate the causes and implications of the increasing number of IDR cases.
Tackling Another Public Health Emergency: Recent State and Federal Policies to Increase Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Access

While the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) ended in May, the PHE declaration for the opioid crisis continues. Opioid overdose deaths remain alarmingly high, and the Biden administration recently bolstered the federal government’s response to the opioid crisis with new proposed rules to strengthen access to treatment. CHIR’s Rachel Swindle and Kristen Ukeomah explore this proposal as well as other recent state and federal policy changes that aim to reduce barriers to evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder.
New CHIR Case Study Examines Policies to Expand Primary Care Access in West Virginia
An Historic Event: A Summary of CMS’s Inaugural Health Equity Conference

Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) held the first ever CMS Health Equity Conference. CHIR members who attended the inaugural conference provide an overview of the meeting—including a presentation by CHIR’s Christine Monahan—and its implications for current and future health equity initiatives.
The One Year Anniversary of 988: A Roadmap for States Seeking to Expand Access to Behavioral Health Crisis Services

One year ago, the U.S. transitioned to a new, three-digit nationwide number for suicide prevention and mental health crisis response services. In their latest expert perspective for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health & Value Strategies project, JoAnn Volk and Sabrina Corlette provide a roadmap for states seeking to expand access to behavioral health crisis services, spotlighting Washington State’s comprehensive approach.
New Georgetown Report and Issue Brief on Outpatient Facility Fee Billing and State Policy Responses

Consumers are increasingly being exposed to a new expense when they seek outpatient medical care: hospital facility fees. In a new report and issue brief supported by West Health, CHIR’s Christine Monahan, Karen Davenport, and Rachel Swindle explore outpatient facility fee billing in the commercial sector, including the impact of these fees on consumers and how states are responding.
Mixed Results: Efforts of State Health Plans to Combat Cost Growth Reveal Broader Challenges for Employer-based Insurance
Can Employer-Sponsored Insurance Be Saved? A Review of Policy Options: Price Transparency

The rising costs of employer-sponsored insurance are placing financial pressure on employers and workers alike. In a four-part series, CHIR experts have reviewed the evidence supporting a range of policy options to improve the affordability this critical coverage option. This, their fourth and final post in the series, focuses on health care price transparency.