Print copies of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio 2006 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 2006 Annual Report

Download HPIO's 2006 Annual Report
(Sept. 2007, pdf format, 3.1 MB)
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From the President's Letter:

I am pleased to share with you the Annual Report of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. Since our last report to the community and our friends in 2005, we have continued on our path to lead, empower policymakers, and position ourselves as the “go-to” resource for independent, evidence-based health policy information in Ohio. The past year continued our efforts to distribute thoughtful publications, provide opportunities for engaged dialogue, and collaborate with our partners who share our goal of improving the health of Ohioans.

Experience has shown that communities are much more likely to initiate dialogue about their challenges when a catalyst is present. This past year the Institute embraced the role of catalyst and encouraged conversation, collaboration, and education in health policy areas that included health information technology integration, as well as preparation of key public health practitioners for responding to public health emergencies. In 2006, the Institute was awarded its first federal contract, applying for it in partnership with the Taft Administration on behalf of Ohio. The Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration (HISPC) contract was part of our overall Ohio Health Information Technology Initiative, and as a result of this ongoing effort, the Institute and its partners created a strategic blueprint for adopting effective health information exchange systems in Ohio. Additionally, building on a need expressed by local health commissioners and others, the Institute continued its partnership with the Ohio State University College of Public Health and the Center for Biostatistics to lead the award-winning Practice-Based Epidemiology Program (PBE). The PBE series, held in conjunction with the Summer Program in Applied Biostatistical and Epidemiological Methods, is designed to enhance the applied epidemiology skills of state and local public health practitioners and increase their ability to successfully respond to disease outbreaks in Ohio counties. The Institute will continue these partnerships in 2007.

Also in 2006, the Institute focused attention on the critical policymaking role that employers play in health care. Employers and their business associations consistently cite rising health care costs as their number one concern. Through its health policy forum series, the Institute invited national and state experts to share their knowledge and participate in dialogue on employer-related health policy issues. In May, the Institute explored differing perspectives on employer health management strategies, including incentives and penalties for employees based on health behaviors, such as smoking and exercising. In July, the Institute turned its attention to the challenges that small businesses face in providing affordable health care for their employees. Approximately 225,000 Ohioans work for small employers and are uninsured – a reality check that emphasizes the vital role that small businesses and employer-based policies play in Ohio’s health policy landscape.

The importance of health policy surfaced noticeably during the 2006 elections. Both Ohio gubernatorial candidates included health policy as a major priority area and national health platforms began to emerge that recognized health care transformation as a process that will go beyond financing to a broader view encompassing health outcomes. Several legislative candidates focused on health reform and the Institute provided information to all candidates for statewide office and the Ohio General Assembly on health policy issues affecting Ohio. Additionally, in 2006 the Institute hosted a series of policy forums focusing on the efforts in other states to promote health reform and expand health care coverage, including updates on initiatives in Massachusetts and Florida, as well as innovations in Medicaid programs and the private sector.

The unwavering leadership and support from HPIO’s Board of Directors and funders remained an inspiration. I would especially like to thank our founding funders—the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, Saint Luke’s Foundation of Cleveland, the George Gund Foundation, the Cleveland Foundation, the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation, the Anthem Foundation of Ohio, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton—and the other funders who have given us their core support, including the SC Ministry Foundation, the United Way of Central Ohio, the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, and the United Way of Greater Cleveland.

The Institute’s agenda for 2007 and beyond is daunting, yet exhilarating. Beyond Vision: Transforming Health in Ohio, is a three-year initiative that combines rigorous data analysis with opportunities for dialogue around critical components required to transform the state’s health care system - health care access, health spending, health costs, and health coverage. Building on partnerships is key to the success of this initiative, as well as the many others that we will embark upon in our pursuit of better health for Ohioans. As always, my staff and I invite you—our many colleagues and friends of the Institute, as well as those just getting to know us—to explore the Beyond Vision initiative and other interests we share, take up the challenges ahead, and join us in our journey.

William Hayes, Ph.D.
President
Health Policy Institute of Ohio