Health Policy Update

Increasing premiums for SCHIP programs can reduce enrollment and lead patients to delay care, which could result increase the amount of treatment needed for a disease that may have been preventable, a study found.

According to researchers, policy changes are needed to reduce the number of decisions elderly people have to make when selecting health insurance plans.

Researchers highlighted the problems in administering a state-sponsored chronic disease management plan in Indiana but said the program could serve as a model for other states.

Using nurse care coordination can improve health outcomes and continuity of care for elderly patients, a study found.

Increased outreach and educational efforts are needed to reduce health disparities between children of foreign-born parents and those whose parents were born in the U.S., researchers said.