Annotation: The George Washington University Center for Health Services Research and Policy is dedicated to providing policymakers, public health officials, health care administrators, and
advocates with the information and ideas they need to improve access to quality, affordable health care. The center's research and policy agenda covers topics related to the structure, financing and delivery of health care services, with an emphasis on shift in the nation's health care system to managed care and its impact on underserved and vulnerable populations and those who care for them. The center provides an annual analysis of state Medicaid managed care contracts. The center was founded in 1990 and is housed within the Department of Health Policy in the George Washington University's School of Public Health and Health Services. A major portion of the center's work on Medicaid managed care is related to maternal and child health population. The center also conducts analyses on the maternal and child health delivery system, including the implementation of State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP) and Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) coverage policies. Its publications include sample purchasing specifications for Medicaid and SCHIP. Center staff provide technical assistance to state maternal and child health programs entering managed care arrangements. Services to consumers include inquiry responses, publications, reference information, searchable databases, and a list service. The center also sponsors conferences and workshops.
Keywords: Child health, Health care reform, Health policy, Listservs, Maternal health, Medically underserved, Women', s health