Pennsylvania Health Access Network announces support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to bolster state health reform efforts

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – The Pennsylvania Health Access Network announced today it has 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 health reform efforts in Pennsylvania. The coalition will participate in the Consumer Voices for Coverage grant initiative, which supports state advocacy efforts by fostering strong and robust advocacy infrastructures.

"There is tremendous momentum in the states for implementing effective health care reform," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "We know from experience that the voices of consumers – the men and women who work hard each day to support their families – are often the most effective in driving necessary change."

"As states launch ambitious health care reform efforts to ensure that more Americans have health insurance, advocates for consumers will be able to make their voices heard," she said.

The Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) is a new statewide coalition of organizations working to protect high quality health insurance coverage for individuals and businesses, and expand coverage to the uninsured. Coalition partners include the Philadelphia Unemployment Project (PUP)/Unemployment Information Center, the lead agency for the grant; Pennsylvania Health Law Project, Consumer Health Coalition of Pittsburgh, the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania, the Service Employees International Union, the City of Philadelphia Office of Consumer Affairs, PHI, the Keystone Development Partnership, the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center and the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 1776.

Consumer Voices for Coverage will enhance the critical role that advocates play in shaping and promoting comprehensive health reform. The $15 million initiative will strengthen existing advocacy networks in 12 states. Community Catalyst, a national non-profit consumer health advocacy organization headquartered in Boston, will coordinate the effort nationwide.

"Health care experts nationwide recognize Pennsylvania as a laboratory for efforts to achieve health care reform", said John Dodds, Director of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project. "Pennsylvanians are living the reality of higher costs and eroding insurance coverage; through our participation with Robert Wood Johnson we can ensure their voices are not left out of the debate."

PHAN member PHI, a nonprofit organization that supports long-term care and direct-care jobs in the state, believes the grant is significant. "This grant will allow the Health Care for Health Care Workers campaign to further its advocacy so direct-care workers in Pennsylvania can get the health care coverage they need," said Tracy Lawless, state campaign director for PHI's Healthcare for Healthcare Workers Campaign. "Working with our partners at PHAN will allow the direct-care workforce to have a voice at the larger, statewide advocacy table."

Other 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
Washington -- Washington Community Action Network Education and Research Fund

PHAN is working with local organizations in communities across the Commonwealth, including Johnstown, Warren, Erie, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia to turn public anxiety about declining health care coverage into a sustained public voice for reform.

With new support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation PHAN will work to promote change at the state and national level by mobilizing affected constituencies, including consumers, health care providers, business, labor, the faith community and the general public to press for a more accessible and affordable health care system.

"For Almost 20 years, PHAN coalitions have led efforts to improve health care in Pennsylvania. We are excited to work with such a strong coalition to increase momentum towards action in this state," said Susan T. Sherry, deputy director of Community Catalyst, who directs Consumer Voices for Coverage. "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.

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About PHAN:

The Pennsylvania Health Access Network is a statewide coalition of consumer, labor, community and religious groups that formed in early 2007 to build public support for healthcare reform. PHAN promotes a system of health care that will provide all Pennsylvanians with access to high-quality health insurance that is affordable for individuals and families, will better control escalating health care costs and premiums, and will ensure financial responsibility is shared among individuals, businesses and the public sector. www.pahealthaccess.org

About Community Catalyst:

Community Catalyst, Inc., located in Boston, Massachusetts, is a national nonprofit advocacy organization that builds consumer and community participation in shaping the U.S. health system to ensure quality, affordable health care for all. It works in numerous states with state and local organizations as well as with other national organizations. www.communitycatalyst.org

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years, the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. By helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your life.

Alan Krawitz
Youngworth Communications, Inc.