The University of New England’s Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research first year report on health reform efforts in Vermont has been released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded State Health Access Reform Evaluation (SHARE).

The October 2009 report entitled, “Achieving Universal Coverage through Comprehensive Health Reform: The Vermont Experience” presents the interim results of a two-year comprehensive evaluation examining the impact of health care reform in Vermont as initiated by the 2006 Health Care Affordability Acts.

Findings
According to UNE researchers, the percentage of Vermonters without health insurance has decreased significantly since reform began in 2006, and insurance coverage in Vermont has increased more rapidly than in other New England states during this time.

Also according to the report, most of the increase in Vermont’s coverage is a result of expanded public coverage—enrollment in Catamount Health has increased sharply and steadily during the program’s initial months.

UNE researchers also found that key stakeholders in the state were generally satisfied with enrollment levels to date, despite barriers to enrollment.

Background on Study
UNE's Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research (CHPPR) in 2008 received a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant of $397,517 to conduct the study.

The two-year grant addresses a need recognized by the Foundation to evaluate state efforts to improve access to care and is part of the State Health Access Reform Evaluation program based at the University of Minnesota.

CHPPR  is evaluating the effectiveness of Vermont's effort to provide affordable coverage for uninsured residents and also reduce healthcare costs through system changes.

Vermont's healthcare reform is comprehensive, integrated and includes components common to many state health reform efforts, in place or planned. Information gained from the study will be invaluable to the health reform strategies initiated by other states and on the national level.

The project team is be led by Dr. Ron Deprez, CHPPR executive director.  He is being assisted by Dr. Sherry Glied, chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management, Columbia University; Dr. Susan Besio, director of Vermont Health Care Reform Implementation; Marc Voyvodich, CEO, Stroudwater Associates and Dr. Brian Robertson, director of research at Market Decisions, both located in Portland, Maine.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
RWJF focuses on the pressing health and healthcare issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and healthcare of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and healthcare of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.