Twelve state-based consumer health advocacy groups have been selected by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and Community Catalyst to participate in a new grant project providing technical and financial resources to support state-wide health reform efforts. The organizations will participate in the Consumer Voices for Coverage (CVC) grant initiative, which supports state health care coverage efforts by fostering strong and robust advocacy infrastructures.
Consumer Voices for Coverage will enhance the critical role that advocates play in shaping and promoting comprehensive health reform; the initiative aims to strengthen existing networks within the 12 selected states. Community Catalyst, a national non-profit consumer health advocacy organization located in Boston, will be the national program office and will coordinate the effort nationwide.
State organizations chosen to lead Consumer Voices for Coverage networks in select states include:
- California—Health Access Foundation
- Colorado— Colorado Consumer Health Initiative
- Illinois—Campaign for Better Health Care
- Maine—Consumers for Affordable Health Care Foundation
- Maryland— Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative Education Fund, Inc.
- Minnesota—TakeAction Minnesota Education Fund
- New Jersey—New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund
- New York—The Community Service Society
- Ohio—Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio, Inc.
- Oregon— Oregon Health Action Campaign
- Pennsylvania— Philadelphia Unemployment Project/Unemployment Information Center
- Washington— Washington Community Action Network Education and Research Fund
“Each of these groups have been leaders in efforts to reform health care in their states. We are excited to work with such a strong group of organizations to increase momentum towards action in this state,” said Susan T. Sherry, deputy director of Community Catalyst. “Supporting networks that bring the views of real people to policy-makers and key thought leaders in the states about the need for coverage expansion can be a powerful inducement for reform.”
Additional information on Consumer Voices for Coverage can be found at www.voicesforcoverage.org.
