March 2016 Issue

On the Issues

Meet Ann Hwang – Director of the Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation

As a physician and former policymaker, Dr. Ann Hwang holds a unique perspective as the director of Community Catalyst’s new Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation (the Center). We sat down with Ann to discuss her goals in leading the Center to navigate the next wave of health reform, health system transformation. 

On Our Impact

Consumer Voices for Coverage Evaluation: State Advocacy Infrastructure Diversifies its Base and Pivots its Power

A new evaluation report shows funder investments in building a consumer advocacy infrastructure have significantly strengthened the capacity of state advocacy groups to drive health coverage expansion under the Affordable Care Act. The research, conducted by Mathematica Policy Research, evaluated Consumer Voices for Coverage (CVC), a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program managed by Community Catalyst.
Spotlight Event

New Video Explains How We Work With Our State Partners

Community Catalyst provides technical assistance to organizations around the country using our system of advocacy approach. But what does that mean? And how does that advance advocacy in the states? Board member Anton Gunn, state partners and staff explain in this new video.

On the Ground

“ACA is Here to Stay” Campaign Points the Way Forward

Following last summer’s historic Supreme Court win in the King v. Burwell case, Community Catalyst launched a short-term campaign, “The ACA is Here to Stay” aimed at shifting the way we talk about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to emphasize the need to build off of its foundation while also work to improve it. In August, Community Catalyst worked with PerryUndem Research/Communication, a national polling firm, to run two focus groups in each of three states – North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. From these focus groups we created new messaging designed to resonate with voters who have had stronger reservations about the law.
On the Horizon

Next Generation of Coverage Advocacy Building in the Bluegrass State

There is little doubt the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been an instrumental tool in connecting millions of uninsured Americans to coverage, some for the very first times in their lives. But there is still important advocacy work to be done on behalf of the millions of Americans residing in states that did not fully embrace the ACA, primarily in the South and Mountain states. However, one Southern state that bucked the trend and has since become a model success story for coverage expansion under the law is Kentucky.
O N   T H E   W I R E

Get the day’s top health care news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to On Message Today. 

Follow the new Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation on Twitter at @CCEHI for health system transformation updates!

We partnered with our friends at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Georgetown Center for Children and Families to create a video showing how closing the coverage gap is not only good for working families but is also beneficial to state budgets. Watch it here: “Medicaid Coverage Gap 101”

Congratulations to board member Kavita Patel, MD for receiving the 2016 Cancer Center Innovator Award at the Cancer Center Business Summit.

We’d like to welcome Nancy A. Whitelaw, the co-director/program consultant at Practice Change Fellows/Leaders, to the Community Catalyst board of directors and Eddy Morales, director of the Latino Engagement Fund at the Democratic Alliance, to the Community Catalyst Action Fund board of directors.

Ann Hwang, MD, director of the Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation, spoke about setting up stronger primary care services in Kaiser Health News. In a Health Affairs blog post, Ann reflected on the Center’s mission and January launch event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Strategic Policy Director Michael Miller talks about the importance of public relations when encouraging Medicaid enrollment among consumers in The Times-Picayune.

Katherine Howitt, associate director of policy, was featured on the Healthcare Finances Management Association website after Louisiana passed legislation to close the coverage gap.

We’re excited to announce that Cindy Mann, formerly the top Medicaid official in the Obama Administration, has joined Community Catalyst and the Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation as a strategic advisor. 

We also welcoming Bob Master, MD, founder and former chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Care Alliance, as a senior fellow at the Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation.

Join us in welcoming new staff members: Ilene Weismehl, Database and CRM Manager; Kris Wiitala, Program Associate; Jennifer Lemmerman, associate director, External Affairs; Also, congratulations are in order for Tera Bianchi, who was promoted to Dental Access Program project director.

Stay up to date on developments in health care policy, Affordable Care Act implementation, and more. Sign up to receive Health Policy Hub blog posts in your inbox.

Media Contact

Jack Cardinal
Deputy Director of Communications
617-275-2923 
jcardinal@communitycatalyst.org

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