Introduction to State Health Policy:
A Seminar for New State Legislators

Session 3:
State Roles in Regulating Health Care Markets: Balancing Cost, Access, and Quality

Presenters:	Robert E. Hurley, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Health Administration Medical College of Virginia Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Len M. Nichols, Ph.D. Vice President Center for Studying Health System Change Washington, DC
Content:	States share responsibility with the Federal Government for regulating health care markets. In their role to ensure that consumers have access to cost-effective high-quality health care in an ever-changing economic environment, States have established a variety of regulatory mechanisms over the years. This session describes the “health care delivery market” and discusses the States’ role in its regulation. Programs implemented over the years to balance cost, quality, and access are highlighted, as are program outcomes. Increases in health care expenditures and possible options for maximizing resources in this challenging environment are also examined.
Session Archive:	Click to View Archive (REAL Player)
Session Transcript:	Text Transcript
Presentation Slides:	Robert Hurley: PowerPoint fomat (.37 mb) text format Len Nichols: PowerPoint fomat (.13 mb) text format

Recommended reading:

• Nichols LM, Ginsburg PB, Berenson RA, Christianson J, Hurley RA. “Are Market Forces Strong Enough to Deliver Efficient Health Care Systems? Confidence Is Waning.” Health Affairs, March/April 2004;23(2):8-21.
• Draper DA, Hurley RE, Short AC. “Medicaid Managed Care: The Last Bastion of the HMO?” Health Affairs, March/April 2004;23(2):155-167.
• Nichols LM, Blumberg LJ. “A Different Kind of ‘New Federalism’? The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.” Health Affairs, May/June 1998;17(3):25-42.
• Nichols LM. “Improving State Insurance Market Reform: What’s Left to Try?” In State Health Insurance Market Reform: Toward Inclusive and Sustainable Health Insurance Markets. Ed. Monheit AC, Cantor JC. London and New York: Routledge, 2004; 134-149.