Released April 12, 2024
Earlier this week, HPIO released the sixth edition of the Health Value Dashboard, a tool to track Ohio’s progress toward health value — a composite measure of performance on population health outcomes and healthcare spending.
As illustrated above, the Dashboard found that Ohio ranks in the bottom quartile (44th) on health value compared to other states and D.C. That means that Ohioans continue to live less healthy lives and spend more on health care than people in most other states.
The Dashboard includes more than 100 data metrics on population health, healthcare spending and five additional areas that contribute to health value, plus profiles of groups of Ohioans who face discrimination and obstacles to health and well-being. It is designed for policymakers and other public- and private-sector leaders to examine Ohio’s performance relative to other states, track change over time and identify and explore health disparities and inequities in Ohio.
In analyzing Dashboard data, HPIO identified four policy priorities to improve health value:
- Mental well-being
- Tobacco and cannabis prevention
- Healthcare affordability
- Creating opportunities to thrive
Released April 05, 2024
April is Alcohol Awareness Month and HPIO analysis has found alcohol use is increasing in Ohio, affecting the health of many Ohioans.
Alcohol use is influenced by many factors, including stress, trauma, mental health challenges and experiences of discrimination. However, alcohol use can worsen symptoms of mental health conditions over time and lead to other health challenges.
As illustrated above, liquor sales in Ohio increased by 98% from 2000 to 2020. The pandemic appears to have accelerated alcohol consumption trends that began during the past decade. The sharp increase in the amount of liquor sold in Ohio from 2017 to 2020 indicates that an existing upward trend in alcohol consumption may have been exacerbated by social isolation and stress during the pandemic.
Since 2007, deaths among working-age Ohioans related to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis -- deaths that are directly related to alcohol consumption -- increased by 72%.
A CDC report released last week found that, nationally, deaths from excessive drinking are reversing historic trends, with rates among women now climbing faster than among men (Source: “More Women Are Drinking Themselves Sick. The Biden Administration Is Concerned.,” Kaiser Health News, March 28).
The CDC has developed a self-screening tool that allows users to gauge their alcohol use and create a personalized plan to drink less.
Excessive drinking is one of the more than 100 metrics included in HPIO’s 2024 Health Value Dashboard, which will be released Tuesday, April 9.
Released March 28, 2024
The Health Policy Institute of Ohio has released a new fact sheet titled “Uplifting Community Voices: Housing and Health.”
The fact sheet uplifts experiences with two programs — Healthy Beginnings at Home (HBAH) and Families Flourish — with emerging evidence of improving housing stability and maternal, child and family health and well-being.
The fact sheet explores the following themes that arose through thematic analysis of program participant and staff interviews:
- Housing access improves physical and mental health
- Housing location matters for well-being
- Social support, resources and time build long-term stability
- Housing programs can provide opportunities for empowerment and advocacy
The fact sheet found that, like other states, Ohio faces major challenges in housing affordability and availability. As illustrated above, housing cost burden varies by county in Ohio, but also by race with Black (20.3%), Hispanic (14.8%) and Asian (11.6%) Ohioans experiencing severe housing cost burden more often than white Ohioans (9.2%).
“Programs like the two highlighted in this fact sheet are needed because, while housing is a foundational driver of health, not everyone has equal access to housing,” the report states. “Stable and safe housing influences access to jobs, healthy food, quality healthcare and educational opportunities and reduces stress. Housing is especially important during pregnancy and for families with young children, impacting maternal, child and family well-being.”
Released March 22, 2024
HPIO has released a new policy brief titled, Connections between water quality and health.
The brief focuses on the importance of clean water and the many effects that water pollution and deteriorating infrastructure can have on health throughout life, highlighting data and information for policymakers to improve Ohio’s water quality, including:
- How poor water quality affects health
- Which Ohioans are most affected by poor water quality
- What Ohio has done to address water quality and additional steps the state can take
Despite Ohio having thousands of public water systems serving Ohioans across the state, not every Ohioan has complete access to running water, as illustrated above. In 2021, 124,761 homes (2.4% of homes in Ohio) lacked hot and cold running water and/or a bathtub or shower (i.e., complete plumbing facilities). Lack of complete plumbing was the worst in Appalachian communities, with 4% of homes (35,495 homes) lacking complete access.
HPIO will be hosting a 30-minute webinar on the findings of the brief on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 11 am. For more information or to register, visit: https://www.healthpolicyohio.org/events.
This project was made possible through the generous support of the SC Ministry Foundation, which promotes the mission and ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, as well as HPIO’s core funders.
Released March 15, 2024
Last week, HPIO released a new publication that provides a brief data overview of cannabis use in Ohio and policy considerations for the development of a new regulatory framework for recreational cannabis.
On Nov. 7, 2023, Ohio voters approved Ohio Issue 2. The ballot initiative changed Ohio law to allow the sale and purchase of recreational cannabis, regulated by a new Division of Cannabis Control within the Ohio Department of Commerce. The legislation proposed by Ohio Issue 2 became effective on Dec. 7, 2023, 30 days after the November election.
As the Ohio General Assembly and executive branch consider next steps, policymakers will need to weigh public health, public safety, equity and other considerations.
As displayed above, while the cannabis use rate for Black Ohioans was 1.7 times greater than white Ohioans in 2021, the cannabis arrest rate for Black Ohioans was 5.3 times greater than for white Ohioans the following year.
The Ohio Department of Commerce has posted information on its cannabis policy considerations on the Division of Cannabis Control’s website, including a Non-Medical Cannabis FAQ. The Ohio General Assembly is currently considering two pieces of legislation related to cannabis regulation, House Bill 86 and House Bill 354. More details about the legislation are provided in the HPIO publication.
