News Releases

2012 NEONI Legislative Forum Features Greg Moody and Regional Healthcare Experts

Healthcare advocates and providers joined representatives from Northeast Ohio legislative offices on Sept. 14 to network and hear from experts on the current healthcare environment. Approximately 100 people attended the 2012 NEONI Legislative Forum, “From Change Comes Opportunity: The Impact of Policy on the Region’s Healthcare Providers.”

Attendees heard from Ron Dziedzicki, chief support services officer of University Hospitals Case Medical Center, who provided background information on the history of managed care. The presentation highlighted reimbursement trends from the early days of indemnity insurance to the current development of accountable care organizations. 

In his keynote presentation, Greg Moody, director of the Office of Health Transformation, outlined Governor Kasich’s priorities for Ohio’s healthcare system and preparations for the future of the Affordable Care Act.  Recognizing the increase in beneficiaries, paired with increase in healthcare costs, the state has been taking steps to reduce expenditures by promoting early, less expensive primary care over costlier treatment and emergency department care; streamlining the health and human services departments of the state; and improving overall health system performance.

Closing out the Forum was a panel discussion with local authorities on how the region’s healthcare systems are responding to the evolving state of healthcare policy. The Center for Health Affairs’ President and CEO, Bill Ryan, moderated the conversation which included: 

• Robin J. Bachman, Assistant Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Policy, Sisters of Charity Health System
• Susan J. Bowers, MBA, BSN, RN, President & Chief Nursing Officer, Mercy Allen Hospital
• John Corlett, Vice President of Government Relations and Community Affairs, MetroHealth Medical Center
• Janice G. Murphy, FACHE, RN, BSN, MSN, President, Fairview Hospital
• Claire M. Zangerle, RN, MSN, MBA, President & CEO, Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio

Panelists spoke about the need for greater coordination among health systems in order to meet their mission and the bottom line. Murphy highlighted the need to make better use of best practices and all agreed on the need to allow allied professionals to work to the full extent of their licensure in order to increase efficiencies and improve outcomes.

See pictures from the 2012 NEONI Legislative Forum on NEONI's Facebook page.