Pioneer Institute

Annual 50-State Telehealth Report Finds Slowed Progress in 2023

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Progress made during the pandemic is being lost even as provider shortages worsen, raising concerns about patients’ access to care.

Key Points: 
  • Progress made during the pandemic is being lost even as provider shortages worsen, raising concerns about patients’ access to care.
  • The report grades every state’s telehealth laws in four areas crucial to patients, quality of care, and creating a regulatory environment that allows future healthcare improvements.
  • Open Interstate Telehealth: Break down barriers to allow patients to access qualified telehealth services, and doctors across state lines.
  • “Patients in rural communities, those with disabilities, and seniors need more options for care, and telehealth offers a clear solution.”

Pharmacy Benefit Managers Expose Patients to Negative Health Outcomes, GHLF Updated Studies Shows

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 2, 2023

The updated research found that more than half the exclusions (57%) had questionable medical or economic benefits for patients.

Key Points: 
  • The updated research found that more than half the exclusions (57%) had questionable medical or economic benefits for patients.
  • The original peer-reviewed research and its update, which is not yet published, focuses on ESI, the second largest pharmacy benefit manager in the United States.
  • This forced switch to different medications also adds to the challenges patients and their caregivers face, and it ends up costing more for everyone involved in health care — patients, caregivers, employers, and the government.
  • GHLF will host a webinar concerning formulary exclusions and their impact on patients on November 9 at 12 pm EST.

New Book Calls on States, Local Communities to Improve U.S. History and Civics Education

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

"The importance of a strong U.S. history and civics curriculum cannot be overstated.

Key Points: 
  • "The importance of a strong U.S. history and civics curriculum cannot be overstated.
  • It's long past time for states and local communities to take an active role in recommitting to history and civics instruction."
  • The book calls for a bottom-up approach and delves into recommendations for state and community leaders to reform U.S. history and civics standards.
  • "Our book urges states to adopt U.S. history and civics curriculum that will equip students with the knowledge they need to be informed participants of our democracy."

As COVID-19 Emergencies Ease, Some Progress on Telehealth Rules

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 15, 2023

BOSTON, Feb. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As public health emergency declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic come to an end, Pioneer Institute, Cicero Institute, and Reason Foundation jointly release a new study that rates every state's telehealth laws. The report finds Arizona and Delaware rate best across four key telehealth policy areas, while highlighting some progress in New England.

Key Points: 
  • The report finds Arizona and Delaware rate best across four key telehealth policy areas, while highlighting some progress in New England.
  • The report finds Arizona and Delaware rate best across four key telehealth policy areas, while highlighting some progress in New England.
  • While Massachusetts scores a "green" rating on three of the measures, the state continues to bar access to telehealth services across state lines.
  • The full report also outlines how each state can modernize and upgrade its telehealth laws without stifling future advancements.

Toolkit Highlights Keys to Massachusetts's Vocational-Technical School Success

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 7, 2022

The new report -- "Replicating the Massachusetts Model of Vocational-Technical Education" -- is a toolkit that can empower state leaders to transform their vocational-technical schools for the better. It builds on "Hands-On Achievement," a book detailing the Massachusetts model that Pioneer published earlier this year.

Key Points: 
  • "Thanks to foresighted policies, Massachusetts's vocational-technical schools are the best in the country," said Pioneer Institute Director of School Reform Jamie Gass.
  • "Employers believe that voc-tech graduates are more job-ready than other high school graduates -- and even some college grads."
  • The new report -- "Replicating the Massachusetts Model of Vocational-Technical Education" -- is a toolkit that can empower state leaders to transform their vocational-technical schools for the better.
  • Voc-tech students are now required to pass the same standardized tests as other high school graduates.

Study Finds Pension Obligation Bonds Could Worsen T Retirement Fund's Financial Woes

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 21, 2022

BOSTON, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A new study published by Pioneer Institute finds that issuing pension obligation bonds (POBs) to refinance $360 million of the MBTA Retirement Fund's (MBTARF's) $1.3 billion unfunded pension liability would only compound the T's already serious financial risks.

Key Points: 
  • A new study published by Pioneer Institute finds that issuing pension obligation bonds (POBs) to refinance $360 million of the MBTA Retirement Fund's (MBTARF's) $1.3 billion unfunded pension liability would only compound the T's already serious financial risks.
  • BOSTON, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A new study published by Pioneer Institute finds that issuing pension obligation bonds (POBs) to refinance $360 million of the MBTA Retirement Fund's (MBTARF's) $1.3 billion unfunded pension liability would only compound the T's already serious financial risks.
  • "Virtually every study of POBs finds that timing and duration of the bond issues are critical," said E.J.
  • "The T's financial condition requires fiscal prudence, not a risky quick fix like pension obligation bonds," said Pioneer Executive Director Jim Stergios.

Book Finds Massachusetts Voc-Tech Schools Are National Model, Calls for Expansion

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 8, 2022

BOSTON, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Massachusetts vocational-technical schools -- boasting minuscule dropout rates, strong academic performance, and graduates prepared for careers or higher education -- should be expanded to meet growing demand, according to a new book published by Pioneer Institute.

Key Points: 
  • "Massachusetts is now the unquestioned leader in vocational-technical education, with graduates among the best-prepared to compete in the global economy."
  • "Hands-On Achievement: Massachusetts's National Model Vocational-Technical Schools" traces the history, development, and status of the state's voc-tech sector.
  • Grant all voc-tech schools the same autonomy over budgets, curriculum, and staffing currently enjoyed by regional voc-tech districts.
  • Pioneer Institute is a think tank dedicated to developing ideas that advance prosperity and a vibrant civic life in Massachusetts and beyond.

Global Healthy Living Foundation Study Reports that Nearly Half of Formulary Exclusions Have Questionable Health and Financial Benefits for Patients

Retrieved on: 
Monday, June 6, 2022

The study also found that in some cases, the exclusions violate the core principle of a "formulary," where lower-priced generics, authorized generics, or biosimilar should be preferred over equivalent brand name medicines.

Key Points: 
  • The study also found that in some cases, the exclusions violate the core principle of a "formulary," where lower-priced generics, authorized generics, or biosimilar should be preferred over equivalent brand name medicines.
  • The study evaluated the Express Scripts (ESI) 2022 National Preferred formulary as ESI provides a publicly available national preferred formulary exclusion list annually.
  • For each of the 563 exclusions, the research team categorized the therapeutic into one of three categories.
  • Patients do not see any financial benefit when PBMs and insurers make drug purchasing decisions said Louis Tharp, executive director, Global Healthy Living Foundation.

METCO Works Well, Small Tweaks Could Make It Even Better, Study Says

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 2, 2022

BOSTON, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Program should be expanded, funding simplified

Key Points: 
  • METCO offers educational opportunity to families in Boston and Springfield and provides much-needed diversity to suburban school districts.
  • "Without METCO, diversity would be virtually nonexistent in some districts," said Dr. Ken Ardon, the co-author of " METCO Funding: Understanding Massachusetts' Voluntary School Desegregation Program " with Roger Hatch.
  • Despite accounting for just 2.5 percent of enrollment on average, METCO students account for about 40 percent of African-American students in receiving school districts.
  • These policies benefit districts with declining METCO enrollment and leave less for those that enroll more METCO students.

Study Documents The Design Challenges, Contracting Issues, And Delays Facing New MBTA Fare Collection System

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 19, 2022

BOSTON, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- MBTA's Aggressive Hiring Tactics Have Paid Off, But Oversight Concerns Remain

Key Points: 
  • These details and more are included in a new study from Pioneer Institute, The MBTA's Automated Fare Collection Modernization Contract: Over-Budget and Behind Schedule, but Now Back On Track .
  • "The design challenges with this proposal were always clear," said Greg Sullivan, Pioneer Institute's Research Director and a co-author of the study with Andrew Mikula.
  • Originally scheduled to be fully operational in May 2021, the new fare collection system, called "AFC 2.0," now has a targeted completion date of May 2024.
  • The new study also highlights how the MBTA's AFC 2.0 implementation delays have led to wasteful spending on other contracting work.