Delaware one of 11 participating states vetting strategies around crises such as Hepatitis C and opioid use disorder

WILMINGTON, Del. — Delaware was one of 11 states that vetted potential strategies through the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices to address public health crises such as Hepatitis C and opioid use disorder by improving access to evidence-based pharmaceutical interventions while ensuring the fiscal sustainability of public programs. The NGA released the report on the strategies today.

“Working with other states and the NGA, our Delaware team has found ways to address these public health crises that are having such a devastating impact on the people of our states, while still being able to effectively manage the cost of the medications we use to provide effective and life-saving interventions,” said Governor John Carney. “Giving states more options helps us make the right decisions on behalf of people in need.”

Across all states, specialty medicines – including treatments for Hepatitis C – have been a key driver in Medicaid spending, accounting for 0.9 percent of claims and 32 percent of Medicaid drug spending. A national study found that naloxone use in Medicaid increased 66 percent from 2013 to 2014, as compared with 12 percent for all drugs, and 101 percent from 2014 to 2015, compares with 10 percent for all drugs.

Delaware joined teams from 10 other states in coming up with the strategies: California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington. Beginning in November 2017, the NGA Center supported the states in generating ideas for governors across the country to consider as they balance access and cost concerns. The strategies include:

• Establish a Medicaid spending cap for pharmaceuticals.
• Pursue alternative payment mechanisms such as a subscription model with a pharmaceutical manufacturer.
• Consider options for excluding select drugs from Medicaid coverage.
• Engage in bulk and pooled purchasing.
• Determine and pay value-based prices for drug treatments by incorporating value assessments.
• Explore whether the federal government would allow nominal pricing for correctional facilities.

In Delaware, health care spending – including Medicaid, the Department of Correction and state employee health benefits – account for about 30 percent of the state’s total budget. About 225,000 Delawareans are served by Medicaid, the shared state and federal health insurance program for people from low-income households, seniors eligible for long-term care and individuals with disabilities.

Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, who represented Delaware in the NGA vetting, said the strategies complement the work Governor Carney and she are leading to advance a health care spending benchmark and value-based care in Delaware. In February, Governor Carney signed Executive Order 19 creating a 13-member Advisory Group to make recommendations to Secretary Walker on health care cost and quality benchmarks across Delaware’s health care system, including employer-based coverage, Medicare and Medicaid. Secretary Walker will provide her formal recommendations to the Governor this summer. Beginning in 2019, Delaware will measure the total cost of health care, the first step in increasing transparency in how health care dollars are spent.

“Our Medicaid team has launched several initiatives to improve the quality of care for our Medicaid clients, to address the social determinants of health and to encourage value-based payments,” said Secretary Walker. “These NGA strategies involving evidence-based pharmaceutical interventions offer us options in balancing health care innovations, where appropriate, with the affordability of making those innovations available to the people we serve.”

The full report can be found here.

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National Governors Association announced 2017-2018 committee membership on Wednesday

WILMINGTON, Del. – The National Governors Association on Wednesday announced that Governor John Carney will serve on the association’s Economic Development and Commerce Committee, to exchange ideas and best practices with fellow governors on economic development and economic growth.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson will chair the Economic Development and Commerce Committee, and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper will serve as the committee’s vice chair.

“Governors have the unique ability to demonstrate leadership on economic issues, help drive economic growth, and create an atmosphere that will lead to the creation of good-paying jobs across our states,” said Governor Carney, who last week announced a statewide Jobs & Economy Tour to meet with business leaders. “In Delaware, we’re already focused on restructuring economic development efforts to focus on helping small businesses and entrepreneurs grow, and on fostering innovation. Working together to improve our economy is not a partisan issue, and I’m looking forward to serving with governors of both parties on the committee.”

The committee’s membership includes:

• Gov. John Carney, Delaware;
• Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa;
• Gov. Bruce Rauner, Illinois;
• Gov. Larry Hogan, Maryland;
• Gov. Chris Sununu, New Hampshire;
• Gov. Roy Cooper, North Carolina;
• Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rico;
• Gov. Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island;
• Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin; and
• Gov. Phil Scott, Vermont.

Read more about the NGA’s announcement on Wednesday and the work of the Economic Development and Commerce Committee.

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Related news:
Governor Carney Announces Statewide Jobs & Economy Tour
First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney Attends NGA Learning Lab on State Strategies to Reduce Childhood Hunger
Delaware to Participate in NGA’s Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network

Delaware one of ten states and territories selected to participate in learning lab

DOVER, Del. – First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney is leading a Delaware team studying how Virginia has leveraged public-private partnerships to ensure school-age children have regular access to healthy meals.

Delaware was one of 10 states and territories selected by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices to participate in a learning lab on state strategies to reduce childhood hunger. Gathered in Richmond Monday and Tuesday, the participating states are learning more about communicating and collaborating to reduce hunger, expanding access to school breakfast, supporting innovation in summer meal programs, and streamlining eligibility determination for free meals.

“[Virginia First Lady] Dorothy McAuliffe has provided inspirational leadership on the issue of childhood hunger, and Share Our Strength and the National Governors Association (NGA) have been tremendous partners in that effort,” said First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney. “I’m privileged to be part of the Delaware delegation to this week’s learning lab, along with Aimee Beam from the Department of Education; Ray Fitzgerald, Director of the Division of Social Services; Charlotte McGarry, Programs Director for the Food Bank of Delaware; and Jon Sheehan, Education Policy Advisor.

“We’ve been encouraged by the many ways that efforts already underway in our State align with national best practices, and I’m so proud to learn from those who have been leading such good work in Delaware. We’ve also picked up a few ideas from other states, especially our friends in Virginia, and it’s exciting to think about how we can, very realistically, build alliances and make progress toward meeting the most basic need of the next generation of Delaware’s workforce and leadership. The quality of our schools and the growth of our economy, as well as public health, depend on our success in that effort.”

“Neither teachers nor students can be successful when hunger permeates our classrooms and homes,” said Governor Carney. “Reducing childhood hunger is a moral, educational, and economic imperative.”

The Governor has tasked the Delaware team – which includes representatives from the Governor’s Office, Delaware Department of Education, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and Food Bank of Delaware – to develop a comprehensive plan to establish partnerships between districts and charter schools and public-private organizations that will support existing and new initiatives for reducing childhood hunger.

In addition to providing more education and outreach to increase awareness, the team will identify new and innovative ways to increase access to child nutrition programs, specifically for families in rural areas when school is not in session.

Delaware has made progress in recent years. For example, the Community Eligibility Provision – which allows all children in a school to eat for free if at least 40 percent of its population qualifies – has helped more students across Delaware have the opportunity to eat breakfast and lunch at school at no cost. This school year, 115 schools participated in the program, an increase from 96 schools when launched in 2014-15. Delaware is ranked in the top five states for the largest increase in this area.

With the school year ending, the state now is trying to get out the word about the Summer Food Service Program, which aims to provide low-income children nutritious meals when school is not in session. Free meals, which meet federal nutrition guidelines, are provided to all children 18 years old and younger at approved SFSP sites in areas with significant concentrations of low-income children. Last summer, more than 720,000 meals (breakfast, lunch, snack, and supper) were served at more than 350 statewide locations.

“Children who depend on school meals for nutrition during the academic year still have needs when school is out,” said Secretary of Education Susan Bunting. “We must continue to provide nutritious food to children in their own communities so they don’t go hungry during the summer months.”

“Ensuring that Delaware children have access to nutritious food has always been a priority at the Food Bank of Delaware,” said Food Bank of Delaware President and CEO Patricia Beebe. “We have advocated for alternative models of school breakfast in all Delaware schools, improvements to the summer and after-school meal programs, and to ensure that both at-risk children and their families have access to healthy foods. We know that good nutrition is needed in order for kids to learn, play and grow. 17.3 percent of Delaware children are considered food insecure so there is still much we can do as a state. We are thrilled that Delaware has this opportunity to learn best practices from other states so that we can best serve our most vulnerable children.”

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Initiative will help states anticipate effects of federal health care changes, and discuss new ways to reduce costs

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney announced on Thursday that Delaware has been selected as one of 14 states to participate in the Governors’ Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network – an initiative led by the National Governors Association. The network will help Delaware anticipate potential federal health care changes under consideration in Congress, and discuss new ways of using innovation to reduce the growth in health care spending.

Governor Carney has expressed concern over efforts in Washington to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, saying proposed changes could limit access to quality health care for Delawareans with the greatest needs, and shift health care costs onto the states.

“I believe that the technical assistance provided through this opportunity will make a significant difference in our efforts to curb the growth of health care spending in Delaware and to prepare for the statutory and regulatory parameters of any new Medicaid or private health insurance reforms that may be enacted in Washington,” said Governor Carney. “The work of our Delaware team will have a direct impact on the lives of all Delawareans, including state employees and retirees, those who are covered by Medicaid, and individuals and families who depend on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for quality health care.”

Strategically realigning resources to drive statewide health care innovation, improve health outcomes, and lower costs was a recommendation of the Action Plan for Delaware.

The Governors’ Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network – which is designed to assist states in navigating the changing health care landscape – will include Delaware, California, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

Delaware and the other states will:

• Receive clear, unbiased information on the potential impact of proposed changes to Medicaid and private health insurance;
• Engage in a dialogue with other state leaders and national experts about reform proposals, including targets for health care spending, and their potential impact on states;
• Receive data analyses regarding the state impact of health care reforms; and
• Receive technical assistance to understand and prepare for the statutory and regulatory parameters of any new Medicaid and private health insurance reforms, if enacted.

Delaware also will join six other states – Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont and Virginia – in a complementary Maternal and Child Health working group charged with evaluating proposed changes and informing the learning network about potential implications.

The members of Delaware’s Health Reform Learning Network team are:

• Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS);
• Molly Magarik, Deputy Secretary for DHSS;
• Chris Hudson, Director of Budget Development, Planning and Administration with the Office of Management and Budget;
• Regina Mitchell, Fiscal and Policy Analyst with the Office of Management and Budget;
• Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director of DHSS’ Division of Public Health;
• Stephen Groff, Director of DHSS’ Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance;
• Laura Howard, Executive Director of the Health Care Commission; and
• Sheila Grant, Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Carney.

The members of Delaware’s Maternal and Child Health working group include:

• Leah Jones Woodall, Section Chief for Family Health Systems, federally designated Maternal and Child Health Director in DHSS’ Division of Public Health;
• Kate Tullis, PhD., Director of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs in DHSS’ Division of Public Health;
• Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director of DHSS’ Division of Public Health; and
• Stephen Groff, Director of DHSS’ Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance.

Secretary Walker, a board-certified family physician, said Delaware’s acceptance into the learning network will help to further the health care innovation under way at DHSS and through the Delaware Center for Health Innovation (DCHI).

“We are at a critical stage in our health care delivery transformation,” said Secretary Walker. “As participants in the Governors’ Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, we will be able to tap into some of the best ideas and innovations in the country, including global spending targets to curb the growth of health care spending, and bring them to our state. We believe that will lead us to additional ways to improve the health of Delawareans and their experience with the health care system, while reducing the overall costs.”

Delaware already is taking steps to drive health care innovation, improve health care outcomes, and lower costs.

In 2015, Delaware was selected to receive a four-year, $35 million grant from the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to implement initiatives that are focused on helping Delaware achieve the Triple Aim Plus One: better health, improved health care quality and patient experience, lower growth in per capita health care costs, and an enhanced provider experience that promotes patient-centered engagement.

The goal of the innovation work is to strengthen the primary care system so that patients experience well-coordinated, team-based care that delivers better health outcomes, to align incentives for providers and health insurers to focus on quality and affordability, to support patients to engage in their own health, and to support communities to work together to promote health and connect community resources to the health care system.

Delaware’s accomplishments to date from the grant include the statewide launch of a Common Provider Scorecard with health measures aligned with major payers, more than 350 primary care providers receiving grant-funded training and technical assistance in transforming their practices to better meet all of the needs of their patients, financial assistance to six behavioral health practices that include 68 providers to support adoption of electronic medical records, more than 30 percent adoption of value-based payment models by providers statewide, the launch of a community-based population health initiative in two areas of the state, and the passage of legislation enabling the Delaware Health Care Claims Database.

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Online course focuses on abilities of people with disabilities

Dover, DE –Beginning this month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, all State of Delaware employees will be able to access a new online class, Focus on Ability. This class will provide information about hiring and retaining employees with disabilities, including responding to and requesting accommodations, understanding invisible disabilities, and interacting comfortably and respectfully with people who have disabilities.

“Employing people with disabilities is a necessity if the State wants to hire and retain the best employees to run state government efficiently and effectively,” said Governor Jack Markell. “By offering this course to all state employees, we are ensuring we provide every person with the best possible chance to achieve personal and professional success.”

The course is being offered in correlation with the initiative Governor Markell championed as Chairperson of the National Governors Association (NGA) – A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities. As part of his NGA initiative, Governor Markell encouraged governors from every state to focus on employing people with disabilities in their own states and encouraged states to become model employers by increasing the number of people with disabilities working in state government.

Governor Markell believes strongly that government, business, the general public and individuals with disabilities and their families all stand to benefit from increased employment of people with disabilities, and all of these groups have a role and shared responsibility in reaching this goal.

“Advancing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities is the right thing to do as a society. It’s the smart thing for government to do, and it makes good business sense,” said Governor Markell. “There are so many people with disabilities who have the time, talent, and desire to make meaningful contributions to interested employers. What matters is what they have to offer and the tremendous impact that their employment will have on their overall well-being and on overall productivity of the businesses that employ them.”

While people with disabilities bring valuable skills to the workforce, a simple lack of awareness can be a barrier to job access for them. Research shows that employees with disabilities have strong attendance records, are loyal to their employers and have nearly identical job performance ratings to employees without disabilities. More than 600,000 scientists and engineers currently employed in the United States have disabilities. The State of Delaware has a variety of jobs filled with employees who have disabilities, including cerebral palsy, autism, and physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities. State of Delaware employees with disabilities hold a variety of jobs, including Accounting Specialists, Division Directors, Judicial Case Processors, Management Analysts, Equipment Operators and Social Workers.

Focus on Ability will be offered free of charge to all state employees. For more information, visit the Statewide Training and Development website at: http://delawarepersonnel.com/training/online/. If employees have any problems registering on the website, they can reach the Statewide Training and Development Office at (302) 577-8977.