Strengthening the Regional Health Care Safety Net Introduction and Background Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, Sept. 2009

Health & Medicine’s Regional Health Care Safety Net Initiative Began in 2006 as a “process of policy analysis and development of comprehensive solutions to strengthen the health care safety net across the 7 counties in northern Illinois” Models the 1990 Chicago/Cook County Health Summit, but addresses new and intensified problems across the region

Began in 2006 as a “process of policy analysis and development of comprehensive solutions to strengthen the health care safety net across the 7 counties in northern Illinois”

Models the 1990 Chicago/Cook County Health Summit, but addresses new and intensified problems across the region

What do we mean by “health care safety net”? Providers that … organize and deliver a significant level of health care and other related services… to uninsured, Medicaid, and other vulnerable populations (IOM), as well as other population-based health services.

Providers that …

organize and deliver a significant level of health care and other related services…

to uninsured, Medicaid, and other vulnerable populations (IOM), as well as other population-based health services.

The 7 County Region of Northern Illinois Counties of… Cook DuPage Kane Kendall McHenry Lake Will

Counties of…

Cook

DuPage

Kane

Kendall

McHenry

Lake

Will

Health & Medicine’s Regional Health Care Safety Net Initiative Convened initial meeting in 2006 Created 6 workgroups: Personal Health Services, Data & Demographics, Governance, Finance, Health Equity and Population-based services, and Workforce Led by a Steering Committee Assembled county profiles/data Conducted Key Informant Interviews

Convened initial meeting in 2006

Created 6 workgroups: Personal Health Services, Data & Demographics, Governance, Finance, Health Equity and Population-based services, and Workforce

Led by a Steering Committee

Assembled county profiles/data

Conducted Key Informant Interviews

Health & Medicine’s Regional Health Care Safety Net Initiative Developed Problem Statements Pre-Summit Meeting, Nov. 2008 Reviewed Problem Statements Prioritized Work Drafted Preliminary Recommendations Created Summit Planning Committee Summit, June 2009

Developed Problem Statements

Pre-Summit Meeting, Nov. 2008

Reviewed Problem Statements

Prioritized Work

Drafted Preliminary Recommendations

Created Summit Planning Committee

Summit, June 2009

Regional Health Safety Net Summit Co-hosted with U.S. HRSA, Region V 160 Attendees Groups reviewed, modified, added to, and endorsed the recommendations Many willing to take active role in moving recommendations to action Many signed-on to call for greater leadership and resources in this effort

Co-hosted with U.S. HRSA, Region V

160 Attendees

Groups reviewed, modified, added to, and endorsed the recommendations

Many willing to take active role in moving recommendations to action

Many signed-on to call for greater leadership and resources in this effort

Regional Health Safety Net Summit Key priorities discussed at Summit: Develop a regional data sharing and information exchange program Develop regional referral network Find new financing schemes to fund safety net Ensure health safety net services are comprehensive (include dental, mental, vision health, and pharmaceuticals) Recruit and retain a more diverse workforce that covers areas of need throughout region

Key priorities discussed at Summit:

Develop a regional data sharing and information exchange program

Develop regional referral network

Find new financing schemes to fund safety net

Ensure health safety net services are comprehensive (include dental, mental, vision health, and pharmaceuticals)

Recruit and retain a more diverse workforce that covers areas of need throughout region

Health & Medicine’s Next Steps Share results of summit (see packet) Develop Policy Paper, calling for a “regional health care safety net enabling mechanism” Solicit funding for the “enabling mechanism” and other safety net work Outreach for political leadership Encourage stakeholder action around safety net recommendations (today’s meeting)

Share results of summit (see packet)

Develop Policy Paper, calling for a “regional health care safety net enabling mechanism”

Solicit funding for the “enabling mechanism” and other safety net work

Outreach for political leadership

Encourage stakeholder action around safety net recommendations (today’s meeting)

Today’s Meeting Goals: Increase awareness of programs that work Increase understanding of the process of building collaborative programs across boundaries Increase networking opportunities for safety net providers, researchers, planners, and leaders across the region Uses Palmetto Project in South Carolina as an example of effective efforts to strengthen the health care safety net across boundaries

Goals:

Increase awareness of programs that work

Increase understanding of the process of building collaborative programs across boundaries

Increase networking opportunities for safety net providers, researchers, planners, and leaders across the region

Uses Palmetto Project in South Carolina as an example of effective efforts to strengthen the health care safety net across boundaries