United States hospital-based births covered by private insurance are associated with higher rates of obstetric intervention than births paid for by Medicaid, according to new research from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

The latest study was led by health policy researcher Katy B. Kozhimannil, Ph.D., M.P.A., who partnered with fellow University of Minnesota researchers Tetyana P. Shippee, Ph.D. and Beth A. Virnig, Ph.D., M.P.H., as well as UCare Minnesota health care analyst Olusola Adegoke, M.P.H., M.B.B.S, who worked on the study as a masters student at the School of Public Health.

The study appeared this week in the American Journal of Managed Care.

To arrive at their conclusion, the researchers studied the relationship between the primary payer and trends in hospital-based childbirth obstetric procedures, such as cesarean delivery and labor induction. They examined 6,717,486 births across the United States between the years 2002 – 2009.

Though obstetric intervention rates have increased over time for all births, the presence and type of health insurance affected the type of care women received during childbirth.

Over the last few years, a number of tragic and unfortunate events have generated an increase in attention on mental health issues in the U.S.

With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expected to occur nationwide by 2014, health insurance coverage is expected to increase for lower-income populations, which often have a higher prevalence of mental disorders.  As a result, individuals with mental illness will therefore see significant gains in insurance coverage and access to care.

Yesterday President Barack Obama delivered his 2013 State of the Union address to millions of Americans. One of First Lady Michelle Obama’s special guests was former University of Minnesota student Abby Schanfield. Schanfield is a member of TakeAction Minnesota’s health care team, a grassroots organization that advocates for change that matters to Minnesotans including economic and health care reform.

Schanfield suffers from a rare congenital disease called Toxoplasmosis. Thankfully she was covered under her parent’s health insurance and was able to receive the care she needed. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Schanfield will continue to be covered under her parent’s plan until she’s 26.

As 30 million new patients enter the health care system over the next two years under the Affordable Care Act, patients and primary care doctors alike could start to feel the strain.

Luckily, physicians aren’t the only ones who can provide patients with the medical expertise that can help improve lives.

Pharmacists have been playing an increasingly important role in the health care system over the last few years and they’ll likely continue to do so as patients seek insight from more interdisciplinary, collaborative health care teams.

University of Minnesota professor of pharmaceutical care and health systems and director of the Center for Leading Healthcare Change within the College of Pharmacy, Lowell Anderson, D.Sc., is looking for ways to improve the ways in which health care systems capitalize on the medication expertise of pharmacists.

“Most people’s concept of pharmacy is that they just fill prescriptions, but for years now, they’ve done much more” …

On 6/28/2012, the United States Supreme Court issued their decision on the Affordable Care Act.

Here is a synopsis of how the Supreme Court ruled:

1. The entire ACA was upheld.
2. The Individual Mandate was ruled Constitutional, but individuals who refuse to comply would pay a tax.
3. The Medicaid provision (expansion) was limited but not invalidated.
4. Because the whole ACA was deemed constitutional, the provision requiring insurers to cover young adults until they are 26 survives as well.

Throughout the days and weeks that follow, University of Minnesota health policy experts will discuss the ruling and its impact with regional media.

To catch up on all the latest regional media coverage featuring the University of Minnesota health policy experts you trust visit our Storify page.

Later this month, the Supreme Court will hand down its ruling on the Affordable Care Act.

In their ruling, the Supreme Court could do one of three things:

1. Uphold the Affordable Care Act;
2. Uphold the Affordable Care Act in part;
3. Strike down the Affordable Care Act completely.

Regardless of the direction of their decision, the ruling will have big consequences for the general public, hospitals and clinics and health care professionals.