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Evaluation of a Competency-Based Health Policy Training Program
Jim P. Stimpson, Kathleen Brandert, Brandon Grimm, and Fernando A. Wilson
An academic and practice partnership was formed to create and implement a competency-based training program for local health departments in health policy. We evaluated if the training program improved the policy knowledge and competency of participants.
Participants exhibited significant increases for self-assessed policy competency, including substantial improvements in “Critique the feasibility and expected outcomes of potential policy options”, “Identify and assess the strengths and motivations of key stakeholders and potential resistors”, and “Recommend a specific policy change”.
The policy competency instrument developed in this report could be used to measure policy knowledge and competency in future training implementations.
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Evaluation of a Competency-Based Health Policy Training Program
Jim P. Stimpson, Kathleen Brandert, Brandon Grimm, and Fernando A. Wilson
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Economic Implications of Tobacco Use for the State of Nebraska Government
Fernando A. Wilson, Nizar K. Wehbi, and Ali S. Khan
We examine smoking-related expenditures for the state Medicaid program and for lost productivity among state government employees. The predicted number of new diagnoses of smoking-related illnesses among government employees ranged from 109 cases of kidney disease to 856 cases of arthritis and related diseases. We estimate over 6,000 lost workdays due to sick leave among currently smoking vs. non-smoking employees. Smoking-related illness is estimated to increase state budgetary expenditures on Medicaid by approximately $114.9 million annually.
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The Impact on Youth Smoking of Increasing the Cigarette Tax in Nebraska: An Update for 2018
Fernando A. Wilson, Nizar K. Wehbi, Jamie Larson, and Li-Wu Chen
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The Status of the Healthcare Workforce in the State of Nebraska
Fernando A. Wilson, Nizar K. Wehbi, Jamie Larson, Kavita Mosalpuria, Ethan Chen, and Marlene Deras
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Predicted Impact on Youth Smoking from Increasing the Cigarette Tax in Nebraska
Fernando A. Wilson, Nizar K. Wehbi, Jamie Larson, and Li-Wu Chen
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Medicaid Expansion in Indiana
Jim P. Stimpson, Fernando A. Wilson, Anh T. Nguyen, and Kelly Shaw-Sutherland
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An Examination of Private Payer Reimbursements to Primary Care Providers for Healthcare Services Using Telehealth, United States 2009–2013
Fernando A. Wilson, Kate Elizabeth Trout, Sankeerth Rampa, and Jim P. Stimpson
- Half of telehealth-related state policies were implemented in the last five years.
- Although many states permit reimbursements for telehealth services, only seven states have passed statutes mandating parity with reimbursements for non-telehealth services.
- Despite an increasing number of telehealth policies, claims for telehealth services to private insurers are rare.
- Lower average reimbursements for telehealth billings may discourage adoption of telehealth technologies.
- Surveillance of claims data will help identify whether telehealth policies are having their intended impact on the healthcare system.
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An Overview of State Criteria for Declaring a Public Health Emergency
Fernando A. Wilson, Nizar K. Wehbi, and Kavita Mosalpuria
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Raising the Minimum Legal Sales Age for Tobacco Products in Nebraska
Fernando A. Wilson, Nizar K. Wehbi, Kavita Mosalpuria, and Li-Wu Chen
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The Economic Impact of Increasing Cigarette Taxes in the State of Nebraska
Fernando A. Wilson, Jamie Larson, and Li-Wu Chen
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The Cancer Care Workforce in Nebraska
Aastha Chandak, Fausto R. Loberiza Jr., Marlene Deras, James O. Armitage, Julie M. Vose, and Jim P. Stimpson
Although cancer is the leading cause of death in Nebraska, the adequacy of Nebraska’s cancer care workforce to care for the cancer population is unknown. Therefore, we used workforce survey data for 2008-2012 from the Health Professions Tracking Service to analyze the cancer care workforce supply in Nebraska. We found that from 2008 to 2012, the cancer care workforce for adults outpaced cancer prevalence. We outline several policy options to improve Nebraska’s cancer care workforce capacity, and we consider the effect the Affordable Care Act may have on Nebraska’s cancer care workforce
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Underage Drinking in Nebraska
Sarbinaz Bekmuratova, Nicole carritt, Tim Kaldahl, and Jim P. Stimpson
This brief describes the prevalence of underage drinking in Nebraska and its associated outcomes, as well as state policies pertinent to underage drinking and evidence-based strategies that can prevent underage drinking. We defined underage drinking as alcohol consumption by persons younger than 21 years. In 2010, Nebraska’s underage drinking costs, including medical care, work loss, and pain and suffering, totaled more than an estimated $423 million, which translates to a cost of $2,309 per year for each youth in Nebraska or $2.92 per drink. Underage customers consumed about a quarter of all alcohol sold in Nebraska. In a ranking of states based on the alcohol percentage consumed by youth, with 1 being the highest, Nebraska ranked fifth. Nebraska policy makers should strongly consider the following state-level policies: increasing taxes on alcohol products, prohibiting youth exposure to alcohol advertising, limiting access to excessive drinking by maintaining limits on days of sale and hours of sale, maintaining and upholding the integrity of the minimum legal drinking age laws, and expanding dram shop liability laws. Cities should study innovative methods of regulating alcohol outlets that balance commerce and protection of citizens. Both local municipalities and the state government should ensure there are sufficient resources available to enforce existing and new underage drinking laws.
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Primary Care Nurse Practitioners in Nebraska
Soumitra S. Bhuyan, Marlene Deras, Mary E. Cramer, Janet Cuddigan, and Jim P. Stimpson
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Primary Care Physician Assistants in Nebraska
Soumitra S. Bhuyan, Marlene Deras, Tamara S. Ritsema, Michael J. Huckabee, and Jim P. Stimpson
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Access to Oral Health Care in Nebraska
Aastha Chandak, Kim McFarland, Preethy Nayar, and Jim P. Stimpson
Oral health contributes to overall health; therefore, it is important to understand the level of access to oral health care in Nebraska. Our analysis of the most recently available data in Nebraska on access to oral health care and on the oral health workforce indicates that in 2010, 68.4% of Nebraskans aged 18 years and older visited a dentist within the past year. The total number of dentists practicing in Nebraska in 2012 was 1,028, compared to 1,017 in 2008; however, the number of dentists per 100,000 population decreased by 2.85% between 2008 and 2012, and the number of dentists older than 60 years increased by 39.29%, raising concerns about the retiring dental workforce. Also, in 2012, 53.6% of dentists practicing in Nebraska were practicing part-time, and only 39.2% practiced in rural areas. Twenty Nebraska counties were without a dentist in 2012. The State of Nebraska designates 44 counties as general dentistry shortage areas, and the Health Resources and Services Administration designates 72 dental Health Professional Shortage Areas in Nebraska. To meet the oral health objectives outlined in Healthy People 2020 and to provide services to the additional children who will have dental coverage under the Affordable Care Act, access to care and dental workforce needs in Nebraska will require the attention of both policymakers and providers.
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Health Reform Funding in Nebraska
Kelly Shaw-Sutherland, Yang Wang, and Jim P. Stimpson
In March 2010, the Affordable Care Act was passed into law with the aim to solidify the nation’s health care safety net and expand access to care through new and existing programs. Of the estimated $200 billion dollars in mandatory and discretionary spending set to be appropriated by 2019, approximately $18.3 billion in total funding has been allocated to the states. Ranking 46 out of 51, Nebraska has received approximately 0.5% ($85.4 million) of total US funding, almost a full percent lower than the national median of 1.4%. In total funding per capita, Nebraska ranks slightly higher, at 38 out of 51, or $47.20 per capita. Nebraska also ranks among the bottom half of similarly populated states, ranking 21 out of 26 in total funding and 23 out of 26 in total funding per capita. We examined Nebraska’s standing in acquiring ACA implementation funding and discuss the policy implications of missed funding opportunities.
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Trends in Retail and Urgent Care Clinics in Nebraska
Jim P. Stimpson and Marlene Deras
There is considerable interest nationwide in the growth of retail clinics (kiosks located inside a retail store, supermarket, or pharmacy that treat simple illnesses and provide preventive care services) and urgent care clinics (walk-in clinics that treat injuries or illnesses requiring immediate attention). These clinics have the potential to improve access to healthcare by providing more convenient care and transparent prices (compared to a typical physician office visit). This brief describes the trend in the number of retail and urgent care clinics in Nebraska. We found a 40% increase in the number of urgent care clinics from 2008 to 2013, and we found no increase in the number of retail clinics. Currently, 55 retail and urgent care clinics operate in Nebraska, with 71% located in Douglas, Lancaster, or Sarpy County. The demand for primary care will increase next year as more people gain health insurance coverage through the provisions of the Affordable Care Act and are in search of primary care services. State health policy has the potential to address the needs of Nebraskans for convenient and affordable care by identifying and supporting innovative changes in healthcare access.
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Impact of Health Reform on Latinos and Immigrants in the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area
Jim P. Stimpson, Kelly Shaw-Sutherland, and Yang Wang
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Active Primary Care Physicians in Nebraska: Data Comparison, Supply, and Characteristics
Soumitra S. Bhuyan, Marlene Deras, and Jim P. Stimpson
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Public Health Department Accreditation in Nebraska
Janelle J. Jacobson, Jim P. Stimpson, Li-Wu Chen, and David Palm
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Analysis of National Health Policies Directed at Immigrants in the United States
Jim P. Stimpson
This brief describes national policy efforts from 1986 to 2010 affecting access to health care for immigrants. An understanding of the policy actions that have affected immigrants’ access to health care will provide context for future policy discussions.
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