The Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northern Ohio (AMCNO) To Sponsor Sessions Examining Health Care Coverage Needs

As part of the 2008 Cover the Uninsured Week initiative, The Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northern Ohio (AMCNO) is sponsoring two Ohio CHATs About Healthcare sessions on May 1, 2008. 

The purpose of the CHAT - Choosing Healthplans All Together is to query the community, healthcare and policy leaders who are: considering coverage expansion proposals, assessing healthcare priorities and trade-offs and fostering team building and collaboration on the topic of health care for the uninsured. 

At noon on May 1st The Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northern Ohio (AMCNO) and St. Vincent Charity Hospital are co-sponsoring an invitation only CHAT session at St. Vincent Charity Hospital. Presented by the Ohio Department of Insurance, this thought-provoking session will include uninsured participants who will be asked to examine a variety of healthcare coverage needs and set priorities on the relative importance of those needs. 

Another CHAT session sponsored by the AMCNO will follow at our offices at 5:30 p.m. This session, also presented by the ODI, will include physician leaders who will participate in the CHAT process. 

A key component of the CHAT is for the participants to design a basic benefits package using a computer-based game program called CHAT. CHAT is a computer based educational game and research tool designed to elicit opinions of all Ohioans. Built into CHAT’s design is the need to make trade-offs, reflecting the realities of today’s environment. Participants have to weigh various limitations – increased cost-sharing, restricted choice, less convenience and reduced services – as they consider a range of options. The data collected will be forwarded to Governor Strickland’s Healthcare Coverage Reform Initiative and healthcare policy makers. 
Cover the Uninsured, a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to request solutions from our nation's leaders. This includes raising awareness and building support among policy-makers, health care professionals, grassroots advocates, faith leaders, the business community and active citizens through Cover the Uninsured Week. Cover the Uninsured Week runs from April 27th through May 3rd 2008