Consumer Advocate Beginners’
Guide to Transparency:
Using Data to Win Policy Change
Cathy Levine
Executive Director
UHCAN Ohio
clevine@uhcanohio.org
www.uhcanohio.org
Why Should Consumer Advocates Care About
Transparency? Really, do you want them deciding what’s good for us?
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Health care costs too much
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US health care quality/outcomes below other nations disparities
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If you don’t measure it, you don’t know what to fix
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Current cost controls disproportionately fall on backs of
consumers – especially highest needs and lowest income
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Payers/employers, providers, policymakers doing reforms
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Should consumers have a voice in
reshaping payment and delivery of
health care?
Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy Change
Cathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014
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Case Example: Ohio
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Governor Kasich, 2011, creates Office of Health
Transformation
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Website for “greater transparency”
Regular reports on what they are doing – little or no
data
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Much alignment happening in private sector
initiatives, with OHT input – no consumer
involvement
• Governor’s Advisory Council on Payment Reform
- ceremonial
• Major decisions being made behind closed doors
Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy Change
Cathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014
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What We’ve Done Successfully in Past
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Established broad, diverse coalitions for organized consumer voice
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United around principles
Developed recommendations
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Supported administrative, legislative proposals when aligned
• Building relationships with stakeholder groups
• Built consumer voice in new models of care
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Patient Centered Medical Homes
Integrated Care Demonstration for Dually Eligible Ohioans
Local Initiatives, e.g. Health Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati
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“Make the Right Call” – education campaign
Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy Change
Cathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014
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Successes Thus Far
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Seat on Ieadership body of Ohio Patient
Centered Primary Care Collaborative
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Two “Learning Centers” focus on Consumer
Engagement
Seat on Gov’s Council on Payment Reform
• Requirement in Ohio’s integrated care
demonstration that MCOs must have
consumer advisory councils tied to
governance
• Foot in the door
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Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy Change
Cathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014
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What You Can Do – Build Campaign
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Form policy team of consumer advocates
Find state-based expert help – public
employees/retirees unions, think tanks, universities
• Find out what’s going on – build on what’s underway
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Form coalition
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Organize around Payment Reform and models of care
Principles
• Issue reports and develop proposals from broad
coalitions
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Build strategic alliances on specific issues
• Wage grassroots campaign w/stories
Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy Change
Cathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014
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Resources
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Catalyst for Payment Reform –
http://www.catalyzepaymentreform.org/how-we-catalyze/specialinitiatives/price-transparency
National Conference of State Legislatures:
http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/transparency-and-disclosurehealth-costs.aspx
CMS.Gov- http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/state-innovations/:
state innovation models
http://consumersunion.org/topic/health-care/health-care-costs/
www.uhcanohio.org
Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy Change
Cathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014
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Contact Me!
Cathy Levine
UHCAN Ohio
clevine@uhcanohio.org
614-456-0060 x222
www.uhcanohio.org
UHCAN Ohio
370 S. 5th St
Suite G3
Columbus, OH 43125
Find us on:
Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy Change
Cathy Levine, Families USA Conference 2014
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