Spring/Summer 2011 Edition

IMPLEMENTATION BRIEF 3: Implementation of the Affordable Care Act of 2010

This implementation brief, Preparing for Health Insurance Exchanges: Benefits, Challenges, and Responsibilities for the Federal Government and the States, is the third in a series of reports exploring some of the most formidable and important challenges facing states and the federal government as they implement the Affordable Care Act. These exchanges, which will offer a wide choice of private health plans and sliding scale federal premium subsidies for millions of Americans, are scheduled to launch in 2014.

Using Wikis in Government: A Guide for Public Managers

Public leaders face the challenge of finding ways to bridge silos in their organizations. In this report, Dr. Mergel examines one tool that can help them do this—Wikis. Many of us are familiar with Wikipedia, which relies on thousands of active contributors who share their knowledge freely on a dazzling breadth of topics, with an accuracy rate rivaling that of traditional encyclopedias.

Using Online Tools to Engage – and be Engaged by –The Public

Mr. Leighninger’s report begins to pull back the veil on how the various online engagement tactics and tools can be used, and when they work best.  

His report describes common scenarios where public managers may find themselves needing, or using, public input.  He describe a mix of ten different tactics managers may find useful for engaging the public online and highlights over 40 different technologies in use today to support those kinds of engagements.

GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 Explained

This update effort started several years ago through the efforts of Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) then evolved more recently with support from Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Mark Warner (D-VA).

The update is based on more than 15 years of experience – documented through numerous GAO reports that culminated in a 2004 overarching assessment.  This experience included both the evolution of agency practices as well as increased access to information and collaboration via the Internet.

Engaging a Multi-Generational Workforce: Practical Advice for Government Managers

They note that even with the recession, over half the workforce is unsatisfied with their jobs and that the workforce now spans four generations.  These challenges are compounded by rapid technology changes in the workplace.  When taken together, they create enormous challenges for managers in both the public and private sectors.

Medicaid Expansion Under Health Care Reform: Promising Approaches to Managing Care for People with Complex Medical Needs

The University of Maryland School of Public Policy and the IBM Center for The Business of Government are collaborating to offer a unique voice on the major implementation issues surrounding health care reform.

The Implementation Brief series is based on two key premises:

Case Studies in Merging the Administrations of Social Security Contribution and Taxation

Nothing is stable in social security and, thus, the social security structures and financing mechanisms are constantly evolving.Therefore, governments may need to adapt these structures and mechanisms to the new circumstances, especially those arising after the recent economic downturn. Still remains the question how we can move forward in social security with efficiency and effectiveness with regard to the financing of the social security schemes.

A Best Practices Guide to Information Security

Organizations take great pains to use technology to defend against outside attacks; they work hard to spot and stop the malicious insider who is willfully trying to do ill to systems. However, most organizations fall short in equipping their workers with best practices to make them part of the solution to information security.

Environmental Collaboration: Lessons Learned About Cross-Boundary Collaborations

While they find that many of the elements necessary for effective collaborative ventures are critical — such as a clear purpose, dedicated staff, and the willingness to be flexible — they conclude that a bilateral collaborative venture is often more effective when it has a formal legal structures in place that enhance its legitimacy in the eyes of various stakeholders. Informal collaborations are often useful precursors to more formal efforts. These informal

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