www.uhcanohio.org

Cathy LevineExecutive Director

UHCAN Ohio clevine@uhcanohio.org

Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency:

Using Data to Win Policy Change

Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy ChangeCathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014

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Why Should Consumer Advocates Care About Transparency? Really, do you want them deciding what’s

good for us?

• Health care costs too much

• US health care quality/outcomes below other nations - disparities

• If you don’t measure it, you don’t know what to fix

• Current cost controls disproportionately fall on backs of consumers – especially highest needs and lowest income

• Payers/employers, providers, policymakers doing reforms

• Should consumers have a voice in reshaping payment and delivery of health care?

Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy ChangeCathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014

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Case Example: Ohio

• Governor Kasich, 2011, creates Office of Health Transformation

• Website for “greater transparency”• Regular reports on what they are doing – little or no

data

• Much alignment happening in private sector initiatives, with OHT input – no consumer involvement

• Governor’s Advisory Council on Payment Reform - ceremonial

• Major decisions being made behind closed doors

Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy ChangeCathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014

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What We’ve Done Successfully in Past

• Established broad, diverse coalitions for organized consumer voice• United around principles• Developed recommendations

• Supported administrative, legislative proposals when aligned• Building relationships with stakeholder groups• Built consumer voice in new models of care

• Patient Centered Medical Homes• Integrated Care Demonstration for Dually Eligible Ohioans• Local Initiatives, e.g. Health Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati

• “Make the Right Call” – education campaign

Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy ChangeCathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014

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Successes Thus Far

• Seat on Ieadership body of Ohio Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative

• Two “Learning Centers” focus on Consumer Engagement

• Seat on Gov’s Council on Payment Reform• Requirement in Ohio’s integrated care

demonstration that MCOs must have consumer advisory councils tied to governance

• Foot in the door

Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy ChangeCathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014

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What You Can Do – Build Campaign

• Form policy team of consumer advocates• Find state-based expert help – public

employees/retirees unions, think tanks, universities• Find out what’s going on – build on what’s underway

• Form coalition• Organize around Payment Reform and models of care

Principles• Issue reports and develop proposals from broad

coalitions

• Build strategic alliances on specific issues• Wage grassroots campaign w/stories

Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy ChangeCathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014

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Resources

• Catalyst for Payment Reform – http://www.catalyzepaymentreform.org/how-we-catalyze/special-initiatives/price-transparency

• National Conference of State Legislatures: http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/transparency-and-disclosure-health-costs.aspx

• CMS.Gov- http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/state-innovations/: state innovation models

• http://consumersunion.org/topic/health-care/health-care-costs/• www.uhcanohio.org

Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy ChangeCathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014

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Contact Me!

Cathy LevineUHCAN Ohioclevine@uhcanohio.org614-456-0060 x222www.uhcanohio.org

Find us on:

UHCAN Ohio370 S. 5th StSuite G3 Columbus, OH 43125