Ohio Coverage and Quality Council holds second meeting

The state Health Care Coverage and Quality Council held its second meeting last week at the Rife Center in Columbus.

Created through Executive Order of Gov. Ted Strickland, the Council is charged with furthering the work of the State Coverage Initiative and State Quality Institute. The Council is chaired by Mary Jo Hudson, the Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance, and consists of 36 members representing a diverse collection of stakeholders. Among those sitting on the Council is Health Policy Institute of Ohio President William Hayes.

Following its initial meeting in July, the group’s second meeting focused on setting priorities for work moving forward. Also last week, three Council-created task forces (payment reform, medical home and “informed and activated individuals”) held their first meetings. A fourth task force addressing health information technology is to be formed in the near future.

The Council is scheduled to hold its next meeting on Dec. 3 at the offices of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services in the Lazarus Building in Columbus.