Small Group Consultation: What are Connectors and how do they work? (April 26, 2007)

Small Group Consultation:
What are Connectors and how do they work?

April 26, 2007
AcademyHealth
1801 K St. NW, Suite 701 L
Washington, DC 20006

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

Conducted by AcademyHealth

Presentations are available in PPT and PDF formats.

Thursday, April 26th, 2007

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 8:45 a.m.
Introduction and Conference Goals

Enrique Martinez-Vidal
Acting Director, State Coverage Initiatives
AcademyHealth

8:45– 10:00 a.m.
Connectors: What are they and what aren't they?

This session will introduce the idea of Connectors. What do you need to think about in designing Connectors and what problems are you trying to solve? Why did Massachusetts include a Connector in the health reform plan and what is the functionality envisioned for the Connector?

Amy Lischko
Former Commissioner, Health Care Finance and Policy
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
PowerPoint Slides | PDF Handout

10:00– 10:15 a.m.
Break

10:15 – 12:30 p.m.
Connectors, Exchanges, and Employee Choice Pools

Connectors can be designed in many different ways depending on the goal of state policy makers. This session will highlight three models: (a) The District of Columbia Equal Access Act; (b) The Massachusetts Connector; and (c) The Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) Health Connections pool.

Robert E. Moffit, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Health Policy Studies
The Heritage Foundation
PowerPoint Slides | PDF Handout

Robert Carey
Director of Planning and Development
Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority
PowerPoint Slides | PDF Handout

Phil Vogel
Senior Vice President and Director of Health Connections
Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA)
PowerPoint Slides | PDF Handout

12:30 – 1:45 p.m.
Lunch

1:45 – 3:00 p.m.
Digging Deeper: Connectors, Federal Law, and Moving Forward

This session will be a discussion among states and the panelists on operational challenges, implementation, and how to adapt Connector structures to fit each state's specific insurance market conditions and policy goals.

Amy Lischko
Former Commissioner, Health Care Finance and Policy
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

3:00 p.m.
Adjourn