Details

Start:
Thursday, November 3, 2011
End:
Friday, November 4, 2011
Event Category:
Event Tags:
Focus Area:

Venue

L’Enfant Plaza Hotel
480 L'Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20024 United States + Google Map

Washington, DC

**Speaker presentations from this year’s Fall Forum are posted at the bottom of the page.**

The 2011 GIH Fall Forum was held November 3-4 in Washington, DC. The Fall Forum focuses on the intersection of health policy and health philanthropy. This year’s Fall Forum included two daylong Issue Dialogues, as well as an evening plenary session and reception attended by members of the Washington policy community. The first Issue Dialogue focused on the evolving role of the safety net in the era of the Affordable Care Act, and the second one will highlight food access, hunger, and obesity, with a focus on children.

November 3

ISSUE DIALOGUE: Safety Net in the Era of Health Reform: A New Vision of Care

The passage of the Affordable Care Act will extend coverage to millions of Americans by expanding eligibility for Medicaid and providing health insurance through the new exchanges. This shift in the health care landscape will put pressure on safety net centers to bolster capacity and realign service delivery systems so that they become providers of choice. To guarantee a viable future, the safety net will need to become a competitive provider by improving customer services, offering comprehensive care to low-income individuals, strengthening specialty referral networks, and maintaining financial solvency. This Issue Dialogue will focus on the future of local safety nets across the country and explore how philanthropy can support infrastructure developments and quality improvements, including the adoption of technology, patient care coordination, and expanding provider of choice models. Funders, researchers, providers, and federal officials discussed the need to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of care delivery within the safety net system in the wake of health reform, and whether they are up to the challenge.

PLENARY SESSION: Working with Government on Multiple Policy Fronts

This year’s Fall Forum plenary session featured an analysis of the political and economic environment in which government and foundations are now operating. The discussion examined the budgetary decisions and tradeoffs federal and state policymakers are considering, and explored how they might ultimately affect health and health care.

It will be a lively and candid discussion among health grantmakers and the policy community, stimulated by a panel of influential policy analysts and political observers. Moderated by Jackie Judd of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, the plenary featured:

  • Norm Ornstein, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
  • Ray Scheppach, Professor of the Practice of Public Policy, University of Virginia; formerly Executive Director, National Governors Association
  • Jack Ebeler, Principal, Health Policy Alternatives
  • Tom Miller, Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

November 4

ISSUE DIALOGUE: Too Few Choices, Too Much Junk: Connecting Food and Health

The U.S. food system and nutrition are rarely mentioned in the ongoing debate over health reform, yet billions of dollars are spent each year to treat diet-related diseases. At the same time, the rate of food insecurity has increased since the recent recession, with low-income communities of color at most risk. Children are also of special concern, as poor nutrition can harm their physical, mental, and social development. Adding urgency to the issue, over two-thirds of adults and one-third of children are now obese or overweight, and many experts believe that agricultural policies discourage healthy eating.

At this Issue Dialogue, grantmakers, researchers, and practitioners discussed our current food system, the connections between food access and health, and the role of the built environment. Updates will be provided on the Farm Bill; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and otherfederal policies related to food access, with ideas shared on how to maximize their potential. From locally-based approaches to broader efforts, we discussed promising solutions and opportunities to innovate, including healthy food financing initiatives, healthy food incentives, community kitchens, and food hubs.

Hotel Information
L’Enfant Plaza Hotel
480 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20024

Related Content

Share this