Annual Report of Activities

2002

A look back at the Connecticut Health Policy Project and its activities through its third anniversary.

Organizational Accomplishments:

• Updated Project website - visits to the site rose more than three fold
• Monthly quizzes on Connecticut health topics 
• Updated consumer and policymaker information page 
• CT Health Notes listserv enjoyed steady growth in subscriptions 
• Provided fiduciary and technical assistance to Student Health Outreach (SHOUT) - Yale student organization providing outreach and application assistance for Greater New Haven's uninsured 
• Assisted in founding of Yale Health Policy Project - graduate and undergraduate student-run organization formed to explore health policy topics across departments and issue areas 
• Strengthened connections with other organizations including Yale School of Nursing and Greater New Haven Partnership for a Healthy Community 
• Engaged two new Senior Policy Fellows - staff grew from two to four 
• Engaged several new funders including the Anthem Foundation of Connecticut and the Connecticut Health Foundation 
• Revenues exceeded expenses by a healthy margin, set aside one year's operating cushion

Program Accomplishments:

• Created Health Advocacy Toolbox - online, user-friendly tool giving consumers the means to change public policy 
• Concrete tools presented within context of the realities of policy development and implementation
• Includes decision tree to help each visitor find the appropriate remedy or tool for their concern 
• Success Stories of accomplished advocates who started where visitors are now 
• Focus Groups with Likely Voters to test messages and policy options addressing the uninsured incorporating study design input from candidates, results shared with all registered candidates for Governor and other statewide offices, Congress, State Senator and State Representative 
• New survey of legislative and executive policymakers to update results on sources of health policy information, trust in those sources, assessments of upcoming health challenges facing Connecticut and preferred means to receive information, done in response to reverse in state budget fortunes from surplus to deficit 
• Drafted and disseminated popular Policymaker Issue Briefs - one-page analyses of timely topics facing Connecticut, lots of positive feedback from policymakers and media 
• Provided assistance to Connecticut Oral Health Initiative - communications, policy analysis, research and strategy 
• Conducting a feasibility study of congregate housing for Connecticut families to live with their medically complex children 
• Drafted report for the legislative Commission on the Future of Hospital Care in Connecticut 
• Provided technical assistance and research to dozens of consumers, policymakers, advocates, and providers 
• MOST IMPORTANT - provided assistance to dozens of uninsured and underinsured Connecticut consumers seeking health care coverage

Lessons Learned:

• The wisdom of supporting consumers in their voice - not to speak for them, they are more powerful than we will ever be
• Balanced information is the most powerful - there is no need for "spin"
• Learn from experience - take the time to assess what works and what doesn't
• Listen - policymakers had to tell us both in the 2000 and 2002 surveys that they wanted Issue Briefs, we didn't believe that anyone reads those things, but we were wrong
• Be realistic - in bad economic times, success is often measured in protecting what you have rather than expansions
• The power of getting the right information to the right people at the right time
• The power of the web to reach beyond "likely suspects"
• Maintenance is critical - keep things up to date, nothing stays current without tending
• As time and resources become more scarce, keep the mission clearly in mind and measure every activity against it

Goals for Next Year:

• Develop a comfortable financial reserve
• Expand opportunities for policymakers to hear from consumers directly
• Continue consumer and policymaker education on upcoming issues and policy options including defined contributions and hospital debt collection
• Develop the Consumer Action Network - a supported, trained and active group of consumers who have a real impact on health policies working on their own agenda
• Continue CT Health Notes, Project website and Toolbox updates, technical assistance to other organizations and the media 
• Provide productive student research experiences, building health care leadership for Connecticut
• Continue collaboration with others on health policy research and consumer advocacy
• Continue to monitor policy and budget changes, offer realistic affordable policy solutions
• Continue to serve consumers who call needing help

Approved by CT Health Policy Project Board of Directors, January 27, 2003