Consumer Health Coalition. Annual Report. Consumer Health Coalition. 650 Smithfield Street Centre City Tower, Suite 2130 Pittsburgh, PA 15222

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1 Consumer Health Coalition Consumer Health Coalition 650 Smithfield Street Centre City Tower, Suite 2130 Pittsburgh, PA Annual Report P F

2 Mission Statement Consumer Health Coalition s mission is to inspire a consumer movement to enhance access to quality, affordable health care in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Name: Organization: Get Involved! Consumer Health Coalition Membership Form Title: A Three-Pronged Advocacy Approach Address: Phone: Fax: Community Organizing Improved Health Dues/ Donation Amount Enclosed: Please make checks payable to: Consumer Health Coalition To learn more about membership in the Consumer Health Coalition, call or write: Outreach & Enrollment Education Jessica Seabury, Executive Director Consumer Health Coalition 650 Smithfield Street Centre City Tower/Suite 2130 Pittsburgh, PA Phone: (412) Fax: (412)

3 Become a member of Consumer Health Coalition Membership Benefits action alerts (monthly) Health Care Access in the News (weekly) Quarterly newsletters Members-only advocacy workshops Annual Meeting & Budget Briefing invitations Membership Level Annual Dues Individuals Only $10 Organizations with Budgets: Less than $500,000 $150 $500,000 $999,999 $200 Over $1 million $250 Dear Colleagues and Friends, The unconscionable truth is that more than one in ten of us are uninsured, and the problem is growing. Approximately 1.45 million people in Pennsylvania lack health insurance. They are more likely to forgo health care because of fear of medical costs. They are also more likely to lead sicker lives and die sooner. These inequalities are deplorable. The complacency and apathy of our society serves to further this discrimination. Consumer Health Coalition is dedicated to eradicating these disparities. As long as people must choose between paying for basic necessities and their health insurance premiums, we will advocate for universal health care. And until people no longer delay seeking care because of medical bills, we will organize consumers for a system that is responsive to their needs. Thank you for your support. Only with a strong coalition of many voices can we advance health and social justice. Fr. Regis Ryan Chair Jessica Seabury Executive Director

4 Connecting People to Outreach & Enrollment 2005 was the final year of Consumer Health Coalition s Covering Kids and Families multi-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ). With approximately 1.45 million people in Pennsylvania without health coverage, CHC was selected as one of four pilot sites in the Commonwealth to help to reduce the number of uninsured individuals and families. CHC collaborated with the Covering Kids and Families Statewide Initiative to share best practices surrounding outreach, simplifying enrollment and renewal processes, and coordinating Pennsylvania s existing public health insurance programs. 100% Pledge Campaign 100% Pledge is a partnership between agencies in the community that serve low and middle income families and the Consumer Health Coalition. These agencies pledge to ask all individuals they serve if they have health coverage. Become a member of Consumer Health Coalition Please find a membership form on the following page. Volunteer your services CHC is always grateful for the generous help of its volunteers. Please share your time and talents! Attend a CHC Advocacy Workshop Contact CHC for the date of the next advocacy workshop. Gain the skills you need to make your voice heard! Join the CHC Disabilities Committee The purpose of the Committee is to bring together people concerned with any type of disability - physical, mental, developmental, sensory, cognitive, other - and promote access to affordable and accessible health care services. Don t forget to vote! Please call us at If the individuals do not have insurance, they are referred to the CHC for application assistance. Our staff also conducts trainings on public insurance programs and enrollment processes for agency staff. These trainings serve to strengthen the capacity of the community to further connect families with resources. CHC receives hundreds of referrals each year from its 100% Pledge agencies. Leslie Bachurski Operations Manager Staff Jessica Seabury Executive Director As of May 31, 2006

5 Board of Directors Critical Health Resources President Father Regis Ryan Sto-Rox Family Health Center Vice President Dr. Katherine Seelman University of Pittsburgh Dept. Rehabilitation Science Treasurer Myrna Zelenitz East End Cooperative Ministry Secretary John Tague United Cerebral Palsy Luwaunna Adams Every Child Consumer representative Michelle Boyle, RN Allegheny General Hospital Brenda Dare Three Rivers Center for Independent Living Susan Davis Every Child Sandra Fox Psychiatric Social Worker Consumer representative Thomas Hollander Attorney at Law Dick Jevon NAMI Southwestern PA Arnette McCoy Consumer representative Joyce Schlag, LCSW UPMC Presbyterian Hospital Special events such as our Back to School Campaign and partnerships with school districts raised awareness about the problem of the growing uninsured population and helped many uninsured children receive health coverage. Over the past year, CHC was able to support over 210 consumers with application assistance for the AdultBasic, CHIP, Medical Assistance, and Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) programs. CHC helped these consumers understand their public health insurance options, navigate documentation requirements, follow-up to ensure timely processing, and remember to complete redetermination paperwork in order to renew their health coverage. Many of these individuals and families were reached through CHC s 100% Pledge campaign Number of Applications Completed in Francesca Chervenak Pennsylvania Health Law Project Board Advisors Kenneth Thompson, MD Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic As of May 31, adultbasic adultbasic Family CHIP Full Medical Assistance MAWD Medical Assistance

6 Thank you to all of the organizations who were trained on Achieva Action Housing Inc. Allegheny County Medical Society Allegheny County Health Department Allegheny Valley Employment Alma Illery Medical Center American Lung Association Bedford Family Support Center Bethlehem Haven Bidwell Training Center Bloomfield Garfield Corporation Braddock Family Care Connection Brashear Association Canon-McMillan School District Center for Healthy Hearts and Souls Certain Futures Program Children s Hospital of Pittsburgh Children s Hospital Ronald McDonald Care Mobile CitiParks Clairton Family Foundations / Early Head Start Community Human Services Community Justice Project COTRIAC Duquesne City School District Duquesne Family Center Duquesne Family Support Center Duquesne Heights Community Center Early Intervention Program / East Allegheny Family Center East Allegheny Family Center East Liberty Family Support Center Epilepsy Foundation of Western PA Every Child Inc. Families Focused on Children Family Resources McKeesport / The Warm Line Garfield Family Support Center Greater Latrobe School District Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Hazelwood Health Center Head Start Healthcare for the Homeless HI Hope Highlands Family Center Hill District Family Foundations Homewood Brushton Family Support Center Hospital Council of Western PA Jewish Family and Children s Services John Heinz Family Center Jubilee Association Infrastructure Financial Strength & Sustainability The Consumer Health Coalition has embarked on a strategy to enhance our financial strength and secure our long-term sustainability. Traditionally, the Coalition has been funded by the generous support of community and family foundations. Moving forward, these charitable organizations will continue to be critical sources of support as we work to further our mission. In order to enhance our fiscal strength, the Consumer Health Coalition is simultaneously working to diversify its revenue streams. CHC s Board of Directors and staff have developed and are implementing a strategic and aggressive development plan to secure additional support from: Corporate Foundations Government Grants 2006 Membership Drive 2006 Donor Campaign By diversifying our funding streams, CHC will secure its financial infrastructure over the long term. We are extremely grateful to the charitable organizations that have funded us in the past. We look forward to continued partnerships, as well as developing new relationships.

7 Finances Resources Consumer Health Coalition is grateful to the following organizations for support in 2005: Compassion Allegheny/ North Hills Community Outreach Families USA FISA Foundation Forbes Funds Jewish Healthcare Foundation National Council on Aging Neighborhood Cancer Care Cooperative The Pittsburgh Foundation Public Welfare Foundation Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Three Rivers Center for Independent Living and the generous support of our Coalition members the 100% Pledge and those who took the Pledge in Just Harvest Kingsley Association Lawrenceville Family Support Center Lydia s Place Magee Women s Hospital Outpatient Clinics McKeesport Collaborative McKeesport 7 th Ward Family Support Center McKeesport Family Center Mon View Heights Family Center Mon Yough Women and Family Center Mt. Oliver Family Care Connection National Council for Urban Peace and Justice Neighborhood Centers Association North Hills Community Outreach Northview Heights Family Support Center Oakland Family Care Connection One Small Step Parental Stress Center Pitcairn Family Support Center Pittsburgh Family Center Pittsburgh Public Schools Positive Parenting Program Program for Healthcare to Underserved Populations Providence Family Support Center Rankin Family Care Connection RX Council Salvation Army McKeesport Salvation Army Somerset Shadyside Hospital Family Health Center Steel Valley Family Center Sto-Rox Family Center Sto-Rox Family Foundations Turtle Creek Family Care Connections United Way of Allegheny County UPMC Southside Urban League of Pittsburgh Vintage Inc. Wesely Center A.M.E. Zion Church West Chester Area School District Wilkinsburg Community Ministry Wilkinsburg Family Care Connection Wilkinsburg Family Support Center Wilkinsburg School District William Penn School District Wireless Neighborhoods Women of Zion Women s Center and Shelter YWCA of McKeesport

8 Raising Awareness Amplifying the Voice Action Alerts Action alerts are ed monthly to inform our mailing list about current health care meetings, events, and related advocacy action steps. Education Health Care Access in the News Health Care Access in the News is similar to a newspaper clipping service. It is ed to our mailing list on a weekly basis and provides an overview of what is happening in the media and in health care policy. Quarterly Newsletters Newsletters are mailed to our mailing list four times per year. They highlight organizational successes and provide notice to our readers about upcoming health care challenges. Advocacy Workshops These workshops are for both our consumers and colleagues at other health and human services organizations. Topics include how to build a relationship with your legislator, presentation skills for public hearings and press conferences, and navigating the legislative process. PA Campaign for Affordable Health Coverage Prior to initiating the Allegheny Access to Benefits Coalition, the Consumer Health Coalition was a member of the Pennsylvania Campaign for Affordable Health Coverage, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) coordinated this initiative in Pennsylvania to improve program policies, administration, and enrollment of lowincome Medicare beneficiaries in the Medicare Buy-In and Medicaid-funded programs. CHC served both as a Coalition member and pilot site to identify best practices and challenges in enrolling eligible Medicare beneficiaries in these programs.

9 Aging & Health Furthering Knowledge Access to Benefits Coalition Community Organizing The National Access to Benefits Coalition (ABC), founded by the National Council on Aging, is a public-private partnership dedicated to ensuring that low-income Medicare beneficiaries know about and are assisted to make optimal use of Medicare prescription drug benefits and all other available resources for saving money on prescription drugs. Consumer Health Coalition was the lead agency for the Allegheny Access to Benefits Coalition, a collaboration of 27 community organizations dedicated to connecting lower income Medicare beneficiaries to prescription drug savings programs. The goal of the Allegheny Coalition through December 2005 was to reach out to, educate, and enroll lower income Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare-approved drug discount card programs, including the $600 transitional assistance credit to individuals with incomes below 135% of Federal Poverty Level. Consumer Health Coalition proactively provided Allegheny Coalition members access to informational materials, training, and tools to screen and refer eligible lower income Medicare beneficiaries. Our Coalition s greatest strength was the ability to link resources across agencies, especially those that have direct contact with low-income Medicare beneficiaries. The partnership has allowed us to amplify resources and refer consumers to a broader range of services for support (i.e. prescription assistance, in-home services, volunteer opportunities, civic engagement opportunities, etc.). Smoking Cessation for Pregnant Women on the Medicaid Program Consumer Health Coalition completed a research project in 2005 to identify best practices and barriers to smoking cessation services for pregnant women enrolled in the Pennsylvania Medicaid program. CHC engaged in this project as Pittsburgh has one of the highest smoking rates in the nation, including one of the highest rates of smoking by low-income pregnant women. This project was completed in partnership with the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) with support from the Public Welfare Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Our findings indicated that a system of care with enormous potential to positively impact maternal smoking rates has existed for well over ten years in Pennsylvania. However, this program - Healthy Beginnings Plus - has not been implemented with adequate resources and support. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, recommendations were developed on ways to improve access to care. As a starting point, the white paper and these recommendations were shared with the Department of Public Welfare. However, much advocacy still remains to be done to make the Healthy Beginnings Plus maternity care program a reality for pregnant women on Medical Assistance in Pennsylvania.

10 People with Disabilities A Common Advocacy Agenda Community Organizing Consumer Health Coalition s Disabilities Committee This Committee brings together people with and concerned about the entire spectrum of disabilities physical, mental, developmental, cognitive, and sensory. Committee members work together to identify common concerns and develop a shared advocacy agenda. Together, Committee members amplify their voices for a responsive health care system. Major Accomplishments of 2005: April 2005 Consumer Health Coalition partnered with Achieva and other local organizations to bring 28 consumers to a rally in Harrisburg for individuals with disabilities. June 2005 The Committee and its partners built upon the momentum generated from the April rally and rented an accessible bus to support consumers in meeting with members of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Later in June, the Consumer Health Coalition and the Disabilities Committee brought together over 75 organizational partners and consumers for a press conference at United Cerebral Palsy. The purpose of this event was to put a human face on the problem of the uninsured, and raise awareness about how the Governor s proposed cuts to health and human services programs would impact the lives of individuals in our community. Our messages appeared on Channel 11 news, WDUQ, KQV, in the Pittsburgh Post- Gazette and Tribune Review. July 2005 Consumer Health Coalition, community partners, and 30 consumers gathered at Mercy Hospital to celebrate the 40th birthday of the Medicaid program. CHC sponsored the event to raise awareness about the effects of the cuts to Medical Assistance. Along with consumers and our community partners, we sent a message to Senator Santorum to celebrate the positive impact of the Medicaid program and encourage him not to vote for programmatic cuts. The event garnered media attention from WDUQ, KQV, and Metro News. September 2005 With input from consumers and the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, CHC also submitted comments for the Governor s Listening Tour. The purpose of the Listening Tour was to identify ways to improve Medicaid and address the financial challenges surrounding the program in light of declining federal support. CHC s testimony focused on alternative sources of funding to sustain the program including support for the taxation of smokeless tobacco products. Our written testimony can be found on the Department of Public Welfare s web site.