News Releases

The Center Kicks Off 2015 Advocacy Agenda

During the past several months, The Center for Health Affairs has been executing its 2015 advocacy agenda. At the top of this year’s agenda is Ohio’s biennial state budget, with a specific focus on renewing extended Medicaid coverage. To ensure hospitals in Northeast Ohio are represented adequately and maintain a strong collective voice in these conversations, The Center has adopted a multifaceted advocacy agenda to articulate the interests of its members.

Through its involvement with the Northeast Ohio Health Advancement Coalition (NEOHAC) – a group consisting of hospital providers, advocacy groups and religious organizations – The Center has participated in a number of in-district meetings with key lawmakers from Northeast Ohio. NEOHAC has already met with Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) and Representative Nan Baker (R-Westlake), and has scheduled additional meetings in Northeast Ohio prior to June when the legislature wraps up its budgeting process.

In addition to in-district meetings, on Feb. 25, The Center joined NEOHAC at the Statehouse in Columbus to meet with legislators to discuss various proposals currently under consideration in Ohio’s biennial state budget. Members collectively met with more than 15 lawmakers throughout the day and stressed the importance of continued Medicaid extension, as well as a number of other provisions pertaining to healthcare delivery in Ohio.

Lastly, this month The Center for Health Affairs distributed welcome packets to federal, state, and local elected officials who represent various areas throughout Northeast Ohio. The focus of these packets is to introduce or reacquaint elected leaders to the region’s most important health policy topics. This annual project has been in place for years and aligns with The Center’s 2015 advocacy agenda and Strategic Direction. This year’s welcome packets included a variety of materials highlighting Northeast Ohio’s healthcare environment including:

• Hospital Finance Overview
• Medicare Overview
• Medicaid Overview
• Medicaid FAQ 
• District-Specific Hospital Directory

For more information about The Center’s 2015 advocacy agenda or Ohio’s biennial state budget, contact Tony Gutowski, public policy development manager, at 216.255.3610 or via email.