Fostering Productive Dialogue on Health Reform Implementation

Health Affairs Grant Watch Blog

Catherine Hess of the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) reports on how foundations are supporting efforts to foster dialogue between states and stakeholders during implementation of health reform. Facts, not ideology, should ground discussions was among the lessons learned at a meeting of state officials and advocates in southern states.

Even in political climates where health care reform can be polarizing, shared goals in improving health care and health can bring officials and advocates together in productive dialogue about how each can carry out complementary roles to achieve those goals, a March meeting of advocates and state officials in southern states, sponsored by the Public Welfare Foundation, showed.

Subsequently, on May 11, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) convened a webinar based on that meeting and titled “Building Partnerships: State Officials and Advocates Working Side by Side on Health Care Reform.” Sponsored by the Public Welfare Foundation, this webinar and a forthcoming brief share some of the lessons learned in complementary projects conducted by NASHP (a national policy analysis and assistance organization focused on states) and the national consumer advocacy organization Community Catalyst.  

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