MHA's Inside Connection

Health advocates are giving a voice to the plight of the nation’s 47 million uninsured. Major national media campaigns have heightened awareness of the problem of the uninsured. In the absence of federal leadership, state initiatives have taken center stage, and Missouri is no exception. read more

Creating affordable health insurance options for Missouri’s 719,000 uninsured residents is a central focus of the 2008 session of the Missouri General Assembly. One important health insurance expansion effort is Insure Missouri. MHA supports Insure Missouri because expanding access to affordable health insurance is central to hospitals’ mission of improving community health. read more

Two major health policy changes are beginning to redefine how and where many Missourians receive their health coverage. Under reforms approved for Missouri’s Medicaid program, many participants will experience reshaped care delivery while new premium assistance and expanded tax credit programs have been authorized to boost employer-sponsored insurance. read more

Half of all Americans will confront a behavioral health condition during their lifetime. Providing medical care for these disorders will create a significant and continuing demand on hospitals’ resources. read more

An often repeated maxim of medicine is “first, do no harm.” It’s a concept clinicians can embrace for patients under their direct care. But, what about expanding the idea to 100,000 or 5 million patients? read more

Changes in the way patients seek care and how they pay for it are transforming the way hospitals communicate about quality and cost of care. read more