Print copies of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio 2007 Annual Report are available by e-mailing HPIO. Please include complete contact information (including organization name, mail address, zip code, and phone number), along with how many copies are requested.

Health Policy Institute of Ohio 2007 Annual Report

Download HPIO's 2007 Annual Report
(Dec. 2008, pdf format, 6.2 MB)
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From the President's Letter:

Your health is everything. The Health Policy Institute of Ohio is committed to improving the health and well-being of all Ohioans through informed policy decisions. The concept of health and well-being is intuitively understood. But, when you try to define it and explain it, it can quickly become confusing and overwhelming. One way in which to think about health is to break it down into four broad areas:

Health before care. Ensuring that Ohioans stay healthy starts in a number of unexpected areas. Seemingly unrelated public policy concerns such as the quality of street lighting and sidewalks, the food in school cafeteria vending machines and the ability for families to access counseling all have an impact on the health of Ohioans. With our research and public forums on issues such as family violence and childhood obesity, the Health Policy Institute of Ohio is on the front line, addressing issues that affect the health of Ohioans.

Access to care.  Much of the focus in 2007 was around access to health care insurance. Our work with the Robert Wood Johnson-funded State Coverage Initiative is working to meet Governor Strickland’s goal to get health insurance for 500,000 more Ohioans by 2011. Costs and payment systems are also being addressed.

Value of Care. Care is irrelevant if it is inadequate. It must offer quality and affordability. Scarce resources must be consumed wisely. The Health Policy Institute of Ohio led discussions on Ohio’s health care quality compared to other states, based on the first-ever comprehensive means of comparing the status of population health and quality of health care systems across the states.

Monitoring. The Health Policy Institute of Ohio studies health care industry data and watches for trends that help us understand the issues. In 2007, the Health Policy Institute of Ohio sponsored a study to analyze health care spending and insurance coverage in the state. Additionally, the Health Policy Institute of Ohio looked at the value of health spending as an investment in the workforce that benefits employee performance and productivity.

We have made much progress. But our efforts have just begun. Join us. With cooperation, our mission will be realized. I am pleased and honored to serve.