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

This workshop was held on July 19-20 at the Westin Westminster just outside of Denver, Colorado. Senior officials from states across the country -- including Governors' health policy staff, Medicaid and SCHIP directors, and others – were in attendance to discuss state strategies for increasing the number of employers offering health coverage and the number of employees signing up for coverage.

The workshop provided a brief overview of the most recent trends in employer-based coverage, followed by detailed discussions about the policy mechanisms available to states to increase the number of residents receiving coverage through their employers. Workshop sessions focussed on Medicaid and SCHIP employer buy-in programs (including both design and operational issues), direct employer subsidies, indirect subsidy mechanisms, insurance market reforms, and pooled purchasing arrangements. The agenda also included small-group discussions tailored to the interests of the participants.