News and Insights

The recent changes in nursing home staffing, census, and the number of nursing homes operating in the U.S. raises the question of how these changes have interacted to affect the extent of understaffing during and after the pandemic and the extent to which the proposed staffing standards from CMS are currently being met. Altarum's George Miller and Corey Rhyan address this question through a review of trends in nursing home resident census and staffing levels from before the start of the pandemic through the end of 2022.

Altarum’s Craig Newman has been honored with the esteemed "Award for Achievements in Public Health Informatics in Newborn Screening" by the Association of Public Health Laboratories. This recognition reflects Dr. Newman's unwavering dedication and exceptional contributions to this critical field of work.

The latest HSEI briefs show that health sector job growth slowed down somewhat after a brief surge, health care price growth stabilized, and health spending as a percent of GDP fell slightly after new BEA data revisions.

Altarum is committed to helping the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Network engage children's hospitals and their communities in providing the best possible care to children and their families in crises and reducing gaps created by global threats, national emergencies, and disasters using research-informed practices. 

The latest HSEI briefs show that health sector jobs increased by the greatest amount since the initial pandemic recovery, health care price and utilization growth fell slightly, and health spending growth continues to be led by utilization over prices.

California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) is an initiative to transform and strengthen the state’s Medicaid program to make it more equitable, coordinated, and person-centered. As a vendor in the CalAIM PATH Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace, Altarum can provide health care providers, community-based organizations, counties, and others with expert TA in building data capacity, strengthening community supports, and supporting workforce recruitment and retention.

The latest HSEI briefs show that health spending as a percent of GDP has stabilized near 17.5%, health care price growth and economywide inflation recently converged, and the health sector added over 60,000 jobs in July.

In the August 2023 issue of Health Affairs, Altarum experts teamed up with Safe Water Engineering, LLC, and Michigan State University to provide a cost benefit analysis of Michigan’s recently revised Lead and Copper Rule requiring water utilities to inventory and replace all lead-containing water service lines. Their analysis uncovers a sizable benefit to this primary prevention-driven policy. This important article is available to read for free.

Altarum and the Citizens Research Council of Michigan today released “Health Challenges and Opportunities,” the third in a series of five papers. The research series, “Michigan’s Path to a Prosperous Future: Challenges and Opportunities,” addresses a variety of recent statewide trends, from population change to health outcomes to infrastructure quality, many of which are progressing unfavorably, and how Michigan can support a more prosperous, thriving future.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has selected Altarum to provide training and technical assistance support to states, territories, tribal organizations, and community partners across the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline ecosystem to transform the crisis care system.

How can we improve care coordination and health outcomes for older adults with higher needs? This report funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation explores a promising AAA/D-SNP model that integrates the age-friendly 4Ms framework.

How can we improve care coordination and health outcomes for older adults with higher needs? The John A. Hartford Foundation-funded report explores a promising AAA/D-SNP model in Indiana that integrates the age-friendly 4Ms framework and how it might be replicated nationwide.