'State of the States 2002' Now Available; Report Analyzes State Health Coverage Efforts in 2001

1/31/2002

From: Christina Folz or Jeremy Alberga, 202-292-6700, both of the Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's State Coverage Initiatives (SCI) program released a report this week that provides a comprehensive policy analysis of state efforts to expand health insurance coverage in 2001.

SCI's State of the States 2002 report includes perspectives from key state policy leaders on a year that began in the midst of one of the nation's longest periods of economic growth and ended in a recession that was exacerbated by the September 11 attacks. In setting their health coverage priorities, state legislators responded to the changing tide by shifting their focus from expanding public programs to maintaining current coverage levels.

"Despite a faltering economy, rising state budget deficits, and the shattering September 11 terrorist attacks, states continued to bring new solutions to bear on coverage challenges last year," says Vickie Gates, director of SCI and vice president of the Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy.

The report also covers insurance market reforms in 2001 and the impact that the Bush administration has had on state expansion efforts. "With two former governors now playing top federal roles, the new administration brought flexibility to the federal-state relationship that had promising implications for the states' ability to expand health insurance," says Gates.

Finally, State of the States highlights the experiences of more than 25 states that participated in planning or demonstration grant programs last year. Both SCI and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded states over $1 million each to plan or implement innovative coverage models.

"Although these programs were created during stronger economic times, the timing of the awards may prove fortuitous," says Gates. "They have given states an opportunity to adjust to the new reality and develop strategies for holding on to the steady progress they have made over the past decade toward reducing the number of uninsured."

For a free copy of the State of the States 2002 report, go to www.statecoveragenet/pdf/stateofstates2002.pdf or contact Christina Folz at folz@ahsrhp.org.

------ SCI is an initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Its goal is to help state governments develop and implement health coverage expansions. The Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy (www.academyhealth.org) serves as SCI's national program office.