18 Apr Innovation Digest – April 2023 Vol. 2

Inertia to change is real in the U.S. health system, but are we seeing signs of change? Organizations with the power of purse and decision authority are emphasizing that equity in health outcomes is a non-negotiable goal, and it’s driving change in everything from data collection to benefit design – even more sensible policy about Medicaid expansion! It is vital that leaders at large employers, health systems and federal agencies set the bar for all actors to do the same if we hope to aggressively accelerate implementation of evidence and change people’s lives. As I’m still learning, leading with equity clarifies what is most important (the patient and family experience and impact) and strips away the excuses of complexity, resources, feasibility, etc. Equal opportunity for health and meaningful life is our goal. We all are obligated to make it happen.

P.S. I included the election worker article because it’s both heartening to see support for beleaguered election officials and of ongoing concern that we have to legislate civil discourse and human civility. Our democracy depends on these underpaid/volunteer citizens. If you’re not one of them, it’s time to step up locally. 2024 is right around the corner!

In this issue:

• Building Equity Into Value Assessments Requires Changing the Rules of the Game
• Washington Has Neglected Value-Based Reforms for Employer-Sponsored Insurance. Employees Are Paying The Price.
• Reimagining Institutionalization and a Continuum of Care for People Experiencing Homelessness and Mental Illness
• It Takes an Average of 17 Years for Evidence to Change Practice—the Burgeoning Field of Implementation Science Seeks to Speed Things Up
• Will North Carolina Be the ‘Beginning of the End’ of the Medicaid Expansion Fight?
• States move to protect election workers amid threats