Fiscal Year 2013 was a time period for key policy decisions, and St. Luke’s Health Initiatives was engaged in informing, advocating for and incubating steps toward increased coverage, access and quality.
Once the US Supreme Court gave states the option on whether or not to expand Medicaid programs in 2014, SLHI worked with partners to bring together health leaders, spur conversations and advocate for Medicaid restoration and expansion. We joined with Valley Interfaith Partnership to educate membership, policy makers, as well as connect with the Governor and the Senate Majority Leader. With the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, we supported advocacy capacity building and media engagement in the stories of people with behavioral health challenges and their lives without access to care. With these and over 25 other organizations, we convened the Saving Arizona’s Future Coalition for unified and focused advocacy that contributed to grassroots and legislative impact. Funding for two Arizona voter polls provided evidence of majority public support for restoration and expansion. The ultimate goal of these investments was achieved when full Medicaid expansion passed into state law this year.
Throughout the fiscal year, SLHI has worked on expanded coverage options first through the Pre-existing Conditions Insurance Pool (PCIP) and then in convening and developing the Cover Arizona Coalition, the over 600-organization group leading on-the-ground assistance and navigation of the Arizona Health Insurance Marketplace slated to open on October 1, 2014. Key partnerships have been solidified with national and local entities, educational presentations to various organizations and audiences are being made continuously, and subcommittees focused on new insurance marketplace eligibles have created and are implementing plans for audience engagement.
SLHI focused on other key Affordable Care Act implementation milestones as well, working to improve health outcomes for Arizonans. Among them: (1) an analysis of essential benefits options helped persuade Governor Brewer to select a more effective care package, particularly for those with significant behavioral health needs; and (2) support to the Arizona Chamber Foundation to advocate to state and federal policy makers on the urgency of support for Graduate Medical Education that can best ensure growth in Arizona’s physician workforce.
A key three-part series of publications analyzing Arizona’s emerging healthcare landscape concluded in FY2013 with the publication of Re-knitting the Safety Net, an in-depth look at budget cuts, health care reform and the future of Arizona’s Safety Net systems. (Also available, Part 1 – “After the Dust Settles,” and Part Two – “Putting the Pieces (Back) Together“)
Arizona Health Futures stepped out beyond the Affordable Care Act as well, (1) supporting facilitation of seven teams of medical, behavioral health and substance abuse providers on integrated service delivery; (2) collaborating with First Things First to improve the state’s system for addressing early childhood development needs; (3) working with the Arizona Academy of Pediatrics on visioning the integration of behavioral health and acute care for children; and (4) partnering with the Arizona Public Health Training Center at the University of Arizona to deliver public policy communications effectiveness training.