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1. Consumer Advocate Beginners’ Guide to Transparency: Using Data to Win Policy Change Cathy Levine Executive Director UHCAN Ohio clevine@uhcanohio.org www.uhcanohio.org

2. Why Should Consumer Advocates Care About Transparency? Really, do you want them deciding what’s good for us? • Health care costs too much • US health care quality/outcomes below other nations - disparities • If you don’t measure it, you don’t know what to fix • Current cost controls disproportionately fall on backs of consumers – especially highest needs and lowest income • Payers/employers, providers, policymakers doing reforms • Should consumers have a voice in reshaping payment and delivery of health care?

3. Case Example: Ohio • Governor Kasich, 2011, creates Office of Health Transformation • Website for “greater transparency” • Regular reports on what they are doing – little or no data • 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

4. What We’ve Done Successfully in Past • Established broad, diverse coalitions for organized consumer voice • United around principles • Developed recommendations • Supported administrative, legislative proposals when aligned • Building relationships with stakeholder groups • Built consumer voice in new models of care • Patient Centered Medical Homes • Integrated Care Demonstration for Dually Eligible Ohioans • Local Initiatives, e.g. Health Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati • “Make the Right Call” – education campaign

5. Successes Thus Far • Seat on Ieadership body of Ohio Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative • 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

6. What You Can Do – Build Campaign • 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 • Form coalition • Organize around Payment Reform and models of care Principles • Issue reports and develop proposals from broad coalitions • Build strategic alliances on specific issues • Wage grassroots campaign w/stories

7. Resources • Catalyst for Payment Reform – http://www.catalyzepaymentreform.org/how-we-catalyze/special-initiatives/price-transparency • National Conference of State Legislatures: http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/transparency-and-disclosure-health-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

8. 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: