New website launched for Governor's healthcare reform initiative

The Ohio Department of Insurance has created a new website focusing on Governor Strickland's effort to reform Ohio’s healthcare coverage system. The goal of the Healthcare Coverage Reform Initiative "is to provide access to affordable health insurance coverage to all uninsured Ohioans with an initial goal of providing coverage to 500,000 more Ohioans by 2011. To develop reforms that achieve these goals, Governor Strickland has asked for a bi-partisan, inclusive, transparent process to develop reforms that are tailored to Ohio." (Source: "About the Initiative," accessed Sept. 26, 2007.)

The website brings together the different work being done under this initiative, including Ohio's participation in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation State Coverage Initiative, which allows people from the Governor's administration, Ohio General Assembly, and key stakeholders to work with leaders and experts from around the country on how to cover Ohio's uninsured residents. Another aspect of the initiative is the Governor's Healthcare Coverage Initiative Advisory Committee, an advisory group to provide guidance in developing reforms.

According to the Health Coverage Reform Initiative website, "stakeholder groups are currently being formed to share information that will shape plans to cover Ohio’s uninsured residents." (Source: "About the Initiative.") Anyone desiring to join one one of these stakeholder groups should go the "Public Input" section of the website and provide their contact information and group preference.