Solutions

Give technical advice to policymakers and stakeholders on the practical impact of policy changes and implementation 

  • Advised state and local governments, trade associations, insurers, brokers, and consumers how best to design insurance marketplaces under the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) and how to adapt to its regulations 

Act as a trusted go-between to facilitate negotiations and conversations between payers and providers

  • Managed national task forces whose recommendations were instrumental in adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare and preparing public health systems and hospitals for a potential bioterrorist attack

Propose specific ways that payers can contain health costs and conduct research on health reform and other policy topics

  • Recommended strategies for employers to reduce health spending through a major foundation study, and assisted a large California research hospital adjust to new rules on risk-adjusted payments

Advise investors on the potential consequences of national, federal, and state policy changes

  • Explained to business groups the impact of changes to Chinese health care and to the market for U.S. medical technology and services 

Help political candidates or initiative proponents define their position on policy issues and assist them in developing appropriate media that reflect those goals 

  • Conducted primary research for a California ballot initiative (Prop. 56 in 2016) that raised taxes on cigarettes to deter youth smoking and fund health care programs 

Deliver keynotes and lead seminars for conventions and meetings, and help improve candidates’ presentation skills

  • Coached the Yale University parliamentary debate team and was Canada’s high school public speaking and team debate champion 

Case Studies

Making the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Fit the Needs of Small Business

In addition to offering individual and family coverage, the Affordable Care Act includes a marketplace in each state that sells ACA policies to small business through the SHOP, or the Small Business Health Option Program. By giving technical assistance to legislators and small business groups and responding to their ideas and concerns, LWH Consulting helped bring this marketplace into being. 

After the markets were launched in 2014, LWH Consulting worked in tandem with a national small business advocacy group, supported by a major national health foundation, to study the best practices of implementing SHOP in several states, including California and Colorado. LWH Consulting and its partners undertook a national study and promoted these practices nationwide. 

Private insurance brokers, who have been instrumental in steering individuals and small business owners to the state and federal ACA marketplaces approached LWH Consulting for advice on how best to interpret ACA regulations and conduct outreach, connecting the loop between passing the initial legislation and putting it into practice at the grassroots level.

Using Regional Strategies to Cut Health Care Spending

LWH Consulting was approached by a major Pennsylvania healthcare foundation that also runs a Regional Health Improvement Collaborative (RHIC), one of several hundred consortia nationwide. These organizations strive both to improve the patient’s experience with the health care system and to improve the health of local populations.

Through a combination of research and interviews with thirty leading health industry CEOs and other leaders, LWH Consulting produced four original reports that proposed ways for RHICs to control health spending while improving outcomes. These strategies ranged from the effective use of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to putting Choosing Wisely recommendations into practice to using best practices in maternity care. These findings have gained national attention as well as fulfilling the goals of the original foundation sponsor.