Strickland signs executive order creating health council

Gov. Ted Strickland signed an executive order (pdf) today establishing the Health Care Coverage and Quality Council.

The creation of the 26-member council, which is to be chaired by the Superintendent of the Ohio Department of Insurance, first was laid out last month in the governor’s budget proposal, which set aside $10 million for that purpose. The decision to create the council through executive order means the council could begin work as soon as the spring.

“The role of the Health Care Council will be to facilitate the implementation of health care initiatives that will expand affordable health insurance coverage to more Ohioans and to improve the cost and quality of Ohio’s health care and coverage system,” according to the executive order.

Among the responsibilities of the council will be to advise the governor and General Assembly on improvements to health programs and policies; monitor and evaluate implementation of strategies for increasing access and improving quality of the health care system in Ohio and cataloging existing health care data reporting efforts.