Our Areas of Focus

Community Catalyst was at the forefront of the historic effort to pass the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which brings comprehensive, affordable health care coverage to millions of the uninsured, improves care, ends discriminatory insurance practices and contains health care costs. State governments are critical to the law’s implementation and ultimate success, and advocates play an integral role by representing consumers when policies are established, programs are developed, and rules and guidelines are set. As part of this work, Community Catalyst invests in crucial state-based advocacy initiatives that maximize the impact state consumer advocates have on implementation nationwide, and works with federal policymakers to ensure consumer priorities and concerns are heard in Washington D.C.

Relevant initiatives: State Consumer Health Advocacy, ACA Implementation Fund, Southern Health Partners

Relevant issues: ACA Implementation, Medicaid, Private Insurance and Health Insurance Marketplaces, Coverage for the Uninsured

Health care costs in the United States keep increasing, but many patients still aren't getting the quality care they need. Many Americans, especially low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities, have to navigate through a complicated maze of multiple doctors, medications and programs. Community Catalyst believes in a more efficient and patient-centered health care system that provides high-quality care to everyone at a reasonable price.

Relevant Initiatives: Voices for Better Health, Value Advocacy Project, Substance Use Disorders

Relevant Issues: Health System Transformation, Dually Eligible Populations

Our work with advocates across the country has taught us that improving access to health care and strengthening the health care system aren’t the only ways to improve health. Community-led initiatives to address social, economic, and other factors that affect health—such as income and education—can positively impact health. Whether it’s an effort to increase access to early childhood education, to address jobs and employment or to tackle a public health problem, Community Catalyst works to bring local stakeholders together around common goals and equips them with the tools to succeed.

Relevant Initiatives: Roadmaps to Health Community Grants, Hospital Accountability Project

Relevant Issues: Free Care and Community Benefits, Health Equity

Prescription drug benefits are essential to any health care program, but inappropriate marketing and prescribing undermines quality of care and affordability. At the same time, too much of the increased cost of drugs is caused by drug companies’ use of illegal practices to either keep the price of drugs artificially high or to increase the sales of their products. Community Catalyst works to improve prescription drug policies, expose illegal practices, and change the culture of acceptable and responsible corporate and institutional behavior.

Relevant Initiatives: Prescription Reform

Relevant Issues: Health System Transformation

Community Catalyst has a long history working at the state and federal levels to expand access to health care for all by improving the affordability of health care coverage and protecting vital safety-net programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). As the Affordable Care Act is implemented, we will continue efforts to ensure coverage is affordable and push for consumer-friendly enrollment assistance for the newly insured.

Relevant Initiatives: State Consumer Health Advocacy Project, Consumer Voices for Coverage, Affordable Care Act Implementation Fund, Dental Access Project, Community Catalyst Alliance for Children’s Health, Southern Health Partners, Substance Use Disorders.

Relevant Issues: Medicaid, Medicare, Health Equity, Outreach and Enrollment, Coverage for the Uninsured