The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 set in motion a series of activities, large and small, that shifted the United States to a new trajectory. That day, of course, precipitated great change in the activities of this country on a global level. But it also sparked significant change at home – including an increase in the need for emergency preparedness consulting.

The Center for Health Affairs' September 2016 Policy Snapshot, Hospital Disaster Readiness Part 1: Planning & Preparing, highlights The Center for Health Affairs’ emergency preparedness experts and their work as regional healthcare coordinators, offering emergency preparedness consulting for 27 acute-care hospitals over the five-county region that encompasses Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties.

Hospital Disaster Readiness Part 1: Planning & Preparing

For the last 15 years, hospitals in the region have been working with one another, as well as with other agencies, to put in place the equipment and emergency operations plans necessary to respond to a wide-scale emergency event. As the federally designated regional healthcare coordinator for Northeast Ohio, The Center for Health Affairs has led that effort, supporting hospitals as they develop their plans, distributing federal Hospital Preparedness Program funding, and coordinating regional communication, planning and response efforts.

Hospital Disaster Readiness Part 2: Putting Plans Into Action

The Center for Health Affairs’ November 2016 Issue Brief, Getting to Healthy: Food Insecurity, Nutrition and the Battle Against Chronic Disease, examines the issue of access to nutritious food with a particular focus on food insecurity, its known health impacts, laws that encourage the prevention of food insecurity, as well as promising practices.

Despite the hope that has come with decades of medical advancement in our nation, the United States continues to be burdened by the intractable problem of chronic disease. In the most recent data available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports nearly half of all Americans had one or more chronic diseases and one-third of all people were obese. Those with one or more chronic condition account for 86 percent of all healthcare spending and obesity alone accounts for $147 billion in medical spending.

And while the data may be discouraging, the good news is that for many people, the onset of chronic diseases can be prevented. Yet to prevent chronic diseases people need to have access to environments that promote access to healthy foods as well as opportunities for safe and accessible exercise. In reality, far too many people live, work and play in environments that are not supportive of a healthy lifestyle.

Getting to Healthy: Food Insecurity, Nutrition and the Battle Against Chronic Disease

Support for marijuana legalization has been growing over time across the United States, with a recent poll suggesting that 54 percent of registered voters support legalizing the use of marijuana and 41 percent of registered voters oppose legalization. Medical marijuana is now legal in 28 states, including Ohio, and the District of Columbia. An additional 16 states have legalized limited medical marijuana use. On November 8, residents of California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada voted to legalize recreational use of marijuana while a similar measure did not pass in Arizona. Recreational marijuana is now legal in a total of 8 states and the District of Columbia, although a recount of ballots cast in Maine could impact that number.

While support for marijuana legalization has been growing over time, tension exists between those who seek to ensure that the medicinal properties of the drug are available to people with certain health conditions and behavioral health experts who have grave concerns about laws and legislation that increase the availability and acceptability of any drug. Ohio’s recent legalization of medical marijuana leaves many unanswered questions that need to be carefully considered if the law’s intent to treat individuals with certain health conditions is to be fully realized without any unintended consequences.

Marijuana Legalization

One thing is certain following the Nov. 8 elections, the health policy landscape in Ohio is about to shift. How drastic that shift will ultimately be is unknown with many in health policy circles using the term “uncertain” to describe the anticipated impact.

Legislative and executive action at the federal level will undoubtedly impact the health policy landscape in Ohio and other states and municipalities across the country. Meanwhile, while people are keenly focused on what is happening in Washington, D.C., ballot measures passed in states and cities across the U.S. also signal shifts in Americans’ views on end-of-life care and alternative methods for treating debilitating illnesses and health conditions.

The Center’s January Policy Snapshot, Health Policy and the Election: The People Have Spoken. Now What?, delves into the elections’ likely impact on the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), pharmaceuticals, physician-assisted suicide and marijuana legalization.

Health Policy and the Election: The People Have Spoken. Now What?

Primary care is a crucial component of the U.S. healthcare system. Successful management of chronic disease as well as effective preventive care are vital to ensuring good outcomes for patients and controlling healthcare spending. While there is a primary care physician shortage nationwide that is only expected to grow with time, other clinicians – including advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants – are playing an important role in meeting the primary care needs of the population and will continue to do so in the future.

The Center for Health Affairs’ March 2017 Issue Brief, Bridging the Gap: APRNs, PAs & the Primary Care Physician Shortage provides an overview of the advanced practice registered nurse and physician assistant workforce, delves into the primary care physician shortage, and discusses opportunities that these professionals have to work together to ensure the primary care needs of the population are met into the future.

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