News Releases

The Center Advances Community Outreach Efforts

With so many changes on the horizon in the healthcare industry, it is more important than ever to stay abreast of the latest healthcare developments that matter to Northeast Ohio. Because there are so many organizations in the region that focus on health, The Center for Health Affairs has expanded its community outreach efforts, participating in dozens of meetings. As the leading advocate for Northeast Ohio hospitals, The Center aims to be the voice of the hospital community and represent their interests in its work with these organizations. 

Below you will find a summary of the various events and organizations The Center has met with to further advance its community outreach efforts in the last few months. 

Ohio Alliance for Health Transformation & the Northeast Ohio
Medicaid Expansion Coalition (NEOMEC)
While both organizations were instrumental in advocating for the expansion of Medicaid during the last biennium budget, the Ohio Alliance focused on statewide efforts, while NEOMEC represented a consortium of Northeast Ohio providers and community groups pushing for expansion. This year, as providers across the state gear up for the next state budget, The Center will be intimately involved in advocacy initiatives with the Ohio Alliance and NEOMEC, with specific notice paid to data collection.

Healthy Cleveland
This city-wide initiative, launched in 2011, aims to address the root causes of many persistent health disparities in Cleveland. The city’s four largest health systems – Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals – are all participants of the Healthy Cleveland Initiative. The Center was asked by members of Cleveland City Council to participate in Healthy Cleveland’s Health Literacy Committee to develop literature to inform consumers and patients.

Cuyahoga Health Access Partnership
Initially started as a Cuyahoga County initiative, the Cuyahoga Health Access Partnership, or “CHAP”, is a non-profit dedicated to coordinating healthcare access to Cuyahoga county residents by overcoming financial barriers to care. Many member hospitals have been a part of CHAP since its inception, and, through the association’s community outreach efforts, The Center is pleased to begin working with the group to gear up for the upcoming open enrollment period. 

Northeast Ohio Outreach and Enrollment Council (NEO O + E)
Complementary to CHAP in many ways, the Northeast Ohio Outreach and Enrollment Council (NEO O + E) has worked diligently to pull together a consortium of health navigators and assisters to educate the community about the open enrollment process and the new Medicaid options in Ohio. The Center is pleased to begin working with NEO O + E and its shareholders to develop marketing materials and strategic communications for health insurance consumers in Northeast Ohio.

United Way 2-1-1
The Center was recently contacted by the United Way 2-1-1, a service connecting Northeast Ohio residents with community resources, to explore additional opportunities to collaborate on efforts linking consumers to health insurance. In addition, United Way 2-1-1 asked The Center to participate in meeting unveiling its “Flu on Call” project, which focuses on emergency management in the event of a pandemic, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

For more information on The Center’s community outreach efforts or other partnerships, please contact Tony Gutowski, public policy development manager, via phone at 216.255.3610 or email.