The Alliance for Health Policy Releases Insights Report Highlighting Rare Disease Policy Gaps and Opportunities for 2025 and Beyond

Educational programing and mapping stakeholders in rare disease also part of larger effort

Washington, D.C. — The Alliance for Health Policy today released a new insights report on rare disease policy as part of a program designed to gather policy experts and inform future educational programming. Rare diseases collectively affect an estimated 25 to 30 million people in the United States, about 1 in 10 Americans, and is an area of bipartisan interest. 

A broad range of experts were interviewed for the insights report, identifying key challenges and opportunities in rare disease policy, which sits at the intersection of high patient need, highly complex science, and financial and health system constraints. The report identifies several critical themes, including:

• Access to Care: Timely and affordable access to therapies and specialists remains a significant challenge. Geographic barriers, delays in diagnostics, and treatment inequities require renewed attention.
• Insurance and Affordability: High out-of-pocket costs and complex insurance structures pose significant barriers to care, exacerbating the financial strain on families managing rare diseases. Balancing the urgency of care with the costs of drug development is essential.
• Rapid Diagnostics and Telehealth: Advances in technology offer opportunities to enhance diagnostic speed and access. Telehealth is particularly promising in overcoming geographic and financial obstacles.
• Genetic Testing and Cell and Gene Therapy: While genetic testing and counseling provide critical tools for diagnosis and treatment, including potentially curative solutions through cell and gene therapy, concerns about privacy and data protection must remain a policy priority.
• Incentivizing Research and Innovation: Encouraging investment in rare disease therapies requires robust incentives for pharmaceutical companies to tackle the high costs and limited market potential of such treatments.
• Regulatory Landscape Opportunities: The FDA’s accelerated approval pathway and Rare Disease Innovation Hub are crucial mechanisms in fostering investment and accelerating the delivery of therapies that can improve patient outcomes.

As part of the larger effort, the Alliance also convened trusted thought leaders from Congress, the administration, patient advocacy groups, industry leaders, healthcare providers, and academia to advance solution-driven conversations around rare disease policy. These experts focused on setting priorities for 2025 educational programming, mapping stakeholders engaged in addressing complex issues in rare diseases, and preparing members of Congress and their staff with needed information in this complex field. A report sharing these nonpartisan, cross-sector policy considerations will be released in early 2025.

“We know that the rare disease policy landscape is distinct and raises unique questions for policymakers,” said Claire Sheahan, President and CEO of the Alliance for Health Policy. “By bringing together diverse voices and fostering informed discussions, we aim to illuminate some of the areas most suited for educational focus. The insights memo is our ‘listen first’ approach to harnessing the collective wisdom of Alliance community experts to inform a robust nonpartisan approach to teaching about rare disease policy.”

This initiative on rare diseases builds on the Alliance’s long history of fostering nonpartisan collaboration across sectors to engage and educate the policy community on the most pressing health policy issues.

Read the full report:

About the Alliance for Health Policy

The Alliance for Health Policy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding of health policy issues. Through educational events and resources, the Alliance informs policymakers, the media, and the public about health policy issues and promotes evidence-based solutions.

For press inquiries, please contact:

Carolyn Sobczyk
Communications Consultant
csobczyk@allhealthpolicy.org

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact:

Kelly Appenzeller
Director of Production and Development
kappenzeller@allhealthpolicy.org

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The Alliance for Health Policy Releases Report on Expert Insights on Mental Health Policy: What’s Changed in the Last Two Years?

Group holding three events to further discussion on areas of opportunity

Washington, D.C. — The Alliance for Health Policy recently convened thought leaders from Congress, the Administration, patient advocacy groups, industry, health care providers, and academia for the first of three workshops to advance dialogue on mental health policy education and opportunities. This collaborative effort brings together trusted voices across sectors to outline the priorities for 2025 educational programming, tackling complex issues surrounding mental health and to prepare Congress for upcoming policy challenges in this critical field. Today, the Alliance is releasing its insights report, drawn from interviews with multiple leading voices in mental health, and sharing some key trends. 

These experts examined a range of issues central to mental health policy, including:

• Timing and Sense of Urgency: Despite fluctuations in public focus, bipartisan interest in advancing mental health policy remains strong.
• Some Progress in a Patchwork System: The current mental health landscape is marked by a fragmented funding structure, hindering unified policy implementation and creating a disjointed experience for patients that disincentivizes the right care at the right time.
• Differing Perspective on Parity as a Path Forward: While some advocate for integrating mental health with broader health care through parity, others see alternative models as more effective.
• Looking to Case Studies/Populations with Specific Needs for Learnings: There are some programs that reflect a “bright spot” for progress, with opportunities for lessons learned.

The effort builds on the Alliance’s 2022 Mental Health Signature Series, which identified a foundational framework to address mental health needs in America. The framework emphasized five key areas of strength that would be central in an ideal mental health system: Quality and Measurement, Radical Collaboration, Innovation, Sustainability and Workforce, and Parity/Magnitude. 

The 2024 initiative focuses on developing a core mental health “curriculum” for congressional staff, equipping them to engage effectively with emerging mental health policy, and addressing some of the key issues that surfaced in the insights report.

Mental health has become one of the most urgent health issues facing the United States, with nearly one in five adults—more than 50 million Americans—experiencing mental health conditions each year. The economic impact is also staggering, with an estimated $280 billion in annual health care costs. However, there is hope: most mental health conditions are treatable, and with proper care, people can live fulfilling, productive lives. This urgency drives the Alliance’s focus on equipping policymakers, especially congressional staff, with the resources needed through nonpartisan education and convening that inform more effective nonpartisan solutions.

“Our research shows that while policymakers have made inroads and improvements in mental health policy since 2022, there is still much work to be done to achieve the ‘ideal’ that the Alliance community identified two years ago. Challenges like continuity of care, mental health workforce adequacy, and the need for a system that rewards early and culturally relevant engagement persist,” said Claire Sheahan, President and CEO of the Alliance for Health Policy. “Within this environment, the Alliance has brought our community together to identify some key areas to integrate into our curriculum for educational materials and events on mental health policy for policymakers.” 

This report was released in conjunction with a series of three events in an Alliance “Signature Seminar” on mental health. The first covered identifying learning goals and outcomes and potential content for educational sessions, the second covered the issues of care continuity and potential integration of journey mapping into policy development, and the third will focus on case studies of successful mental health policy interventions and key learnings. At the conclusion of the three events, a second report will be released, providing a useful resource for the health policy community.

Read full report:

About the Alliance for Health Policy

The Alliance for Health Policy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding of health policy issues. Through educational events and resources, the Alliance informs policymakers, the media, and the public about health policy issues and promotes evidence-based solutions.

For press inquiries, please contact:

Carolyn Sobczyk
Communications Consultant
csobczyk@allhealthpolicy.org

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact:

Kelly Appenzeller
Director of Production and Development
kappenzeller@allhealthpolicy.org

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The Alliance for Health Policy Announces 2025 Signature Series Theme: Addressing the Complex Health and Policy Needs of an Aging America

Washington, D.C. –  The Alliance for Health Policy is proud to announce the theme for its 2025 Signature Series: “Aging in America.” As the population of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to increase by 47% by 2050, this series will delve into the profound implications of this demographic shift and explore key questions to prepare the nation for the future of aging in health care.

Dianne Faup, board member of the Alliance for Health Policy, remarked, “As life spans increase and our population ages, we are confronted with one of the most significant challenges in modern health policy.  These older populations often have complex health related social needs which can be addressed through effective use of our federal and state programs. The opportunity is now for health policymakers to reexamine the approach to the federal budget, long-term care policy, and programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security to better serve older Americans and sustain for future generations. With so much in the balance, Aging in America is a perfect topic for the Alliance for Health Policy’s 2025 Signature Series to address.”

98% of seniors currently are covered by Medicare, and 12 million benefit from Medicaid. With nearly three-quarters of older adults requiring caregiver assistance and over 20% remaining in the workforce, the demands on the nation’s health care system, workforce, and social services are rapidly evolving.

The 2025 Signature Series will feature a range of discussions on essential issues, including the approaches needed to equip our system to support an aging population, strategies for optimizing care for seniors, and the role of health policy in addressing these needs. Experts will also explore critical policy questions, such as “What would a health system that is equipped well for an Aging America  look like?” and “What do congressional staff need to understand about aging in America?”

The Signature Series embodies the two-part approach of the Alliance programming: Incubate, which consists of insight development, strategy workshops and reports, and Educate, where the Alliance develops educational curriculum through a series of events, including a thought leader workshop, a public summit, and a congressional briefing, the Alliance for Health Policy will convene leading health experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to examine the intersection of aging and health policy. 

The Alliance is currently seeking sponsors for the 2025 Signature Series. With average attendee ratings of 94%, this program is a unique opportunity to not only support, but join the robust policy conversation.  Visit the Alliance website to discover how your organization can get involved. 

About the Alliance for Health Policy

The Alliance for Health Policy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding of health policy issues. Through educational events and resources, the Alliance informs policymakers, the media, and the public about health policy issues and promotes evidence-based solutions.

For press inquiries, please contact:

Madeline Pennington
Marketing and Communications Manager
The Alliance for Health Policy

mpennington@allhealthpolicy.org

For sponsorship inquiries please contact:

Kelly Appenzeller

Director of Production and Development

kappenzeller@allhealthpolicy.org

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Washington, D.C. – The Alliance for Health Policy is proud to announce the launch of its upcoming congressional fellowship, a key component of the newly established “Bipartisan Learning Communities” program. This initiative is designed to foster collaboration across party lines, inspire innovative solutions, and build a robust leadership pipeline for the future of health policy.

The congressional fellowship will offer an immersive experience for participants to engage deeply with critical health coverage issues, guided by the principles of bipartisanship and evidence-based policy. The fellowship is the culmination of insights gathered from three dedicated working group meetings, where experts in the field collaborated to identify the best ways to provide educational and professional development resources to congressional staff. The working group also produced insights for a Working Group Meeting Report available now on the Alliance website.

The Alliance will employ these principles in designing a curriculum for the coming year for their Bipartisan Learning Communities, and ensure that the features identified, selectivity, personal connection, and best practices in adult learning are included in their programming. The Alliance is releasing this report to share the findings with organizations with similar missions that can benefit from the collective wisdom of the working group to define and develop curricula that provide educational and professional development value. 

“At the Alliance, we believe that real change in health policy can only happen when we break down the silos that have long dominated the conversation,” said Claire Sheahan, M.S.c., President and CEO of the Alliance. “Our Bipartisan Learning Communities program, and specifically this fellowship, is about creating a space where diverse voices can come together, share ideas, and work towards meaningful, sustainable solutions in health care.”

To celebrate the launch of the “Bipartisan Learning Communities” program, the Alliance will host a fall social event, providing a platform for those interested in the fellowship to learn more about the initiative, network with peers, and engage directly with thought leaders in health policy. 

For more information about the congressional fellowship and the fall social event, please visit www.allhealthpolicy.org. More information will be released soon.

About The Alliance for Health Policy

The Alliance for Health Policy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping policymakers and the public better understand health policy, the root of the nation’s health care issues, and the trade-offs posed by various proposals for change. We believe a better health care system begins with a balanced exchange of evidence, experience, and multiple perspectives. Regardless of their point of view, our audience recognizes the Alliance’s reputation as a well-respected source for unbiased health policy information.

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Washington, D.C. — The Alliance for Health Policy is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to our Board of Directors– Lisa Chimento, MBA,  President at Parkway Strategy and Stephanie Quinn, Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Practice Experience at American Academy of Family Physicians. 

Lisa Chimento, MBA, brings more than 30 years of experience across the US health care system to the Alliance. In her previous position as senior strategic advisor to Circle Home Telehealth Services, the company acquired Precise Telehealth, Inc., a digital health start-up where she served the Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors. She is also an active community member and serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of Neighborhood Health, Northern Virginia’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center, and the Vice Chair of the Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission.

Stephanie Quinn, Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Practice Experience at American Academy of Family Physicians brings years of experience in Government Affairs and Relations to the Alliance Board of Directors. She currently  oversees the AAFP Divisions of Government Relations, Practice Advancement, and Strategic Engagements. Prior to joining the AAFP,  Stephanie Quinn was Vice President of Federal Government Affairs at CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield where she led the company’s federal legislative agenda on issues such as market stability, drug pricing policy, and social determinants of health.

“On behalf of the Alliance Board of Directors, I am excited to welcome Lisa and Stephanie,” said Alliance Board Chair Tanisha Carino. “Their extensive experience and reputation as leaders in  health policy will greatly benefit the Alliance as we advance our mission of fostering bipartisan education and convening with  our health policy community.”

Read more about Ms. Chimento and Mr. Quinn here:

Lisa Chimento, MBA

Lisa Chimento is an experienced health care executive who brings more than 30 years of experience across the U.S. health care system. Ms. Chimento most recently served as senior strategic advisor to Circle Home Telehealth Services, a private equity-backed chronic care management company that acquired Precise Telehealth, Inc., a digital health start-up where she served the Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors. She recently served on the Council of Strategic Advisors of Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health, a venture capital fund focused on early-stage health care companies.

Ms. Chimento is the former Chief Executive Officer of The Lewin Group, Optum’s government consulting and analytics business, where she led nearly 400 professionals in bringing innovative solutions to the most pressing health and health care issues facing government agencies today. She also played multiple roles in Optum/UHG, serving as Chief Product Officer of Optum Government (now known as OptumServe) and as the lead executive for Optum’s state health exchange remediation work in Maryland and Massachusetts.

Ms. Chimento is an active member of her community and serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of Neighborhood Health, Northern Virginia’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center, and the Vice Chair of the Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission. Ms. Chimento was formerly the Chair of the Board of the Northern Virginia Health Foundation and the Chair of the Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee.

She earned her MBA at Yale University and her BA in Economics at the University of Virginia.

Stephanie Quinn

Stephanie Quinn is senior vice president of external affairs and practice experience at the American Academy of Family Physicians where she oversees the AAFP Divisions of Government Relations, Practice Advancement, and Strategic Engagements. Prior to joining the AAFP, Stephanie Quinn was Vice President of Federal Government Affairs at CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield where she led the company’s federal legislative agenda on issues such as market stability, drug pricing policy, and social determinants of health. Before CareFirst, Stephanie was Assistant Director of Congressional Relations for the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and served as Deputy Director of Federal Government Affairs for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Stephanie holds a combined degree in linguistics and Spanish from the Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

About the Alliance for Health Policy

The Alliance for Health Policy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping policymakers and the public better understand health policy, the root of the nation’s health care issues, and the trade-offs posed by various proposals for change. We educate congressional and executive agency staff on health policy issues, engage the health care community and stakeholders in solutions-focused dialogues, and convene public webinars on a range of health policy topics and emerging health issues.  Regardless of their point of view, our audience recognizes the Alliance’s reputation as a well-respected source for unbiased health policy information.  For more information, please visit www.allhealthpolicy.org.

For media inquiries related to the Alliance, please contact Madeline Pennington, mpennington@allhealthpolicy.org.

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For media inquiries related to the Alliance, please contact Madeline Pennington, mpennington@allhealthpolicy.org.

For more information on sponsorship or partnership opportunities, please email Kelly Appenzeller, kappenzeller@allhealthpolicy.org.

Washington, D.C. — The Alliance for Health Policy hosts its inaugural Thought Leadership Workshop today, April 25, launching the yearlong 2024 Signature Series program focused on AI in Health. The workshop includes participants from Congress, the Administration, industry sponsors, community/patient voices, and experts and academics in the field. 

The Signature Series, an annual hallmark program of the Alliance, aims to create an opportunity for stakeholders across the health care spectrum to work together on some of the most pressing challenges in health policy. By focusing on the future, identifying and answering strategic questions, articulating frameworks and providing guidance on key questions, a diverse group of stakeholders come together and identify shared objectives and priorities.  Today’s workshop tackles two key questions: “What does a good AI advisory board include?” and “How should a congressional curriculum on the topic of AI and health policy be structured?” 

“Today’s workshop embodies our commitment to listening. We know that our community has some of the smartest, most thoughtful, and wise policy experts in the country. By pairing them with technical experts, industry leaders, policymakers and community voices, these conversations are always rich and productive,” remarked Claire Sheahan, President and CEO of the Alliance for Health Policy. “In particular, with today’s workshop findings, we are arming our participants and the community with answers to some serious and practical questions that we know will have relevance in the coming months.”

Cecilia Oregón, representing Kaiser Permanente as a Visionary Sponsor, expressed pride in supporting the Alliance’s endeavors. “Kaiser Permanente is proud to be a part of the Signature Series. It is imperative to engage in thoughtful discussions on AI policy, ensuring its responsible integration for the betterment of patient care.”

The next events for the Signature Series include: a community reception on July 24, the Signature Series Summit on July 25, a Signature Spotlight Webinar, and a Congressional Briefing with final dates to be announced. Reports from the Signature Series sessions will be available in Fall of 2024. 

To learn more about the events and theme of the 2024 Signature Series, as well as past years’ programs, please explore our website.

About the Alliance for Health Policy

The Alliance for Health Policy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping policymakers and the public better understand health policy, the root of the nation’s health care issues, and the trade-offs posed by various proposals for change. We believe a better health care system begins with a balanced exchange of evidence, experience, and multiple perspectives. Regardless of their point of view, our audience recognizes the Alliance’s reputation as a well-respected source for unbiased health policy information.

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Washington, D.C. — The Alliance for Health Policy is pleased to announce the theme of its eighth annual Signature Series, beginning in April 2024, that will address the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in both health care and health policy.

The Signature Series is the Alliance’s annual hallmark programming that seeks to address the most challenging issues in health policy by convening cross-sector dialogues with experts in both policy and practice. Together, we critically examine these issues to identify what’s at stake, as well as key areas of challenge and opportunity.

The 2024 iteration of this annual Series will feature a Spotlight Webinar for the first time in the Series’ history. This webinar will allow the Alliance to dive deeper into AI and reach a wider audience. 

“The ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) will have an undeniable impact on health care and health policy, and we are excited to explore this topic with our Alliance community through our 2024 Series. This year we have added a new Spotlight Webinar to create additional spaces for learning and connection on AI,” said Alison Jones, Director of Program Management and Strategy.

In an era where data-driven decisions are paramount, AI offers exceptional opportunities for efficiency, personalization, and innovation on a mass scale. Yet, it also raises critical questions about ethics, privacy, and equitable access. The 2024 Series will bring together numerous experts in the field to dissect these complexities.

“Each year, we build on the success of the previous Signature Series, in terms of adding value, continuity, and improving the content and experience for participants,” said Claire Sheahan, President and CEO. “This program is unique in the health policy community for both the quality and variety of voices it brings together, along with being centered on a listening approach. Incorporating a problem-solving workshop allows our participants to share their expertise and guide the programming, resulting in a tailored, of-the-moment experience that deepens relationships as well as knowledge.” 

Previous years’ themes have included health and the economy, health equity, disruptors and transformers, voice of the patient, solving for health, health care costs, aging, the future of health care, mental health, and envisioning a person-first health system.

To learn more about the events and theme of the 2024 Signature Series, as well as past years’ programs, please visit our website.

For media inquiries related to the Alliance, please contact Madeline Pennington, mpennington@allhealthpolicy.org.

For more information on sponsorship or partnership opportunities, please email Kelly Appenzeller, kappenzeller@allhealthpolicy.org.

About the Alliance for Health Policy

The Alliance for Health Policy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping policymakers and the public better understand health policy, the root of the nation’s health care issues, and the trade-offs posed by various proposals for change. We believe a better health care system begins with a balanced exchange of evidence, experience, and multiple perspectives. Regardless of their point of view, our audience recognizes the Alliance’s reputation as a well-respected source for unbiased health policy information.

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January 29, 2024, Washington D.C. – The Alliance for Health Policy Board of Directors announced today that after a national search led by Korn Ferry, they have selected Claire Sheahan as the new President and CEO of the organization.

“The Alliance was  founded 30 years ago to provide needed information to policymakers as they tackle tough health policy questions, and that mission remains critical today. With Claire as the next leader for the organization, the board is confident that the Alliance mission is in capable hands,” said Tanisha Carino, Ph.D., Alliance for Health Policy Board Chair.  

“The Alliance Board recognized that Claire’s passion, energy, and finger on the pulse of health care and health policy are the right mix to take the organization forward.  We trust that together, we will accomplish great things,” said Elizabeth Hall, Vice Chair of the Alliance. 

Known as an empathetic and practical leader, Claire has spent more than 20 years working in health care policy as a strategy consultant, communications expert, and program leader effectively engaging others to catalyze change. She spent more than fifteen years as a leader at consulting and communications agencies, including GMMB, Fleishman Hillard and Avalere. She also served in public affairs roles at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Generic Pharmaceutical Association (now the Association for Accessible Medicines/AAM) and Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Since October 2023, she has served as the interim COO at the Alliance, and her term as CEO begins the first of February. 

“I am excited to work with all those who know and value the Alliance’s contributions, and to engage new voices and partners in the coming years,” said Sheahan. “The Alliance mission has never been more relevant, and I look forward to working across the health policy community to grow the organization’s impact.”

Sheahan succeeds Sarah Dash, MPH who spent 10 years at the organization. According to Dash, “I couldn’t be more thrilled to pass the torch to Claire as the next leader of the Alliance. In our work together, I’ve witnessed Claire’s deep commitment to our core values and her clear vision for the Alliance to advance the field of health policy. I am deeply confident that she is the right person to take the organization forward.”

Read more about Claire Sheahan here:

Claire Sheahan is a dynamic executive with more than 20 years of experience effectively engaging others to catalyze change in health care and health policy. 

Claire has served in leadership roles in associations, corporations,  consulting and communications firms, including GMMB, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Fleishman Hillard, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (now AAM), Avalere, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, and others. In these roles, she has managed effective educational and engagement campaigns, introduced new capabilities, products and services, established novel cross-functional teams, and successfully achieved gains in reputational status, growth and audience impact. 

In her career, she has worked for organizations across the spectrum in health care ranging from scientific discovery to public health to patient advocacy.  These include non-profits like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and National Health Council; medical leaders like the American Academy of Family Physicians, the International Society for Stem Cell Research and Mayo Clinic; and companies like Biogen, Cigna, and Siemens Health. 

Claire is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where she served a semester as a research assistant to a member of UK parliament, and a co-founder of the campus sketch comedy troupe. She also holds an MSc. with Distinction from the London School of Economics in Media and Communications, where her dissertation focused on the construct of public opinion within the halls of the U.S. Congress. Claire also served as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, teaching students in the Communications MA program. She is the mother of two children, a cancer survivor, and serves as a Director on the Fairfax Library Foundation Board.

For media inquiries related to the Alliance, please contact Madeline Pennington, mpennington@allhealthpolicy.org.

About the Alliance for Health Policy

The Alliance for Health Policy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping policymakers and the public better understand health policy, the root of the nation’s health care issues, and the trade-offs posed by various proposals for change. We educate congressional and executive agency staff on health policy issues, engage the health care community and stakeholders in solutions-focused dialogues, and convene public webinars on a range of health policy topics and emerging health issues.  Regardless of their point of view, our audience recognizes the Alliance’s reputation as a well-respected source for unbiased health policy information. 

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Panelists:

• Sheila- Pradia Williams, MBA, Deputy Associate Administrator at the Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
• Patricia Pittman, Ph.D., Fitzhugh Mullan Professor of Health Workforce Equity, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University
• April Joy Damian, Ph.D., MSc, Vice President and Director, Weitzman Institute
• Murielle Beene, DNP, MBA, MPH, MS, RN-BC, Senior Vice President and Chief Health Informatics Officer, Trinity Health
• Farida Ahmed, MHS, Associate Program Officer,  National Academy of Sciences

On workforce maldistribution:

• Patricia Pittman, Ph.D.: “COGME recommends about 40% of our physician workforce should be primary care. When we are graduating folks from the residency, it actually adds up to about 54%, but after the residency, it goes up to below 30%. We lose them through the specialization process. This is largely driven by the issue of income. We have a problem in the way we pay physicians; it’s driving the maldistribution by specialty. It also is driven by geography.”
• April Damian, Ph.D., MSc: “Part of the challenge right now with us falling short of a person-first healthcare system is that leadership, as well as those who are patient-facing, don’t necessarily relate to or represent the lived experiences of the patient populations that they’re serving. It’s particularly true in marginalized and vulnerable populations.”

On lack of workforce retention:

• Patricia Pittman, Ph.D.: “We know that in 2021 we had over a hundred thousand full-time nurses that left nursing and that most of those nurses were under 35. Most of that attrition happened in hospitals and the hospital vacancy rates continue to be really high. We know that 39% of nurses are planning to leave in the next year and 28% plan to reduce hours. Now, plans are not always materialized, but these are what people say in surveys. 60% of critical care nurses in ICUs are planning to leave in the next year. We have a real problem in terms of attrition. The number one reason that people say they’re leaving is inadequate staffing.”

On potential solutions: 

• Farida Ahmed, MHS: “In 2022, the Surgeon General and [the NAM] president usually joked as it being like a one-two punch. [The Office of the Surgeon General] released the Advisory on building a thriving health workforce. We had the National Plan for Health Workforce Wellbeing. The vision of the national plan is that people are cared for by a health workforce that is thriving in an environment that fosters their wellbeing as they improve population health.”
• Patricia Pittman, Ph.D.: “I think the main policy levels here are safe staffing ratios for hospitals. This can happen through Medicare, or it can happen through legislation at the state or at the federal level. We also need to measure staffing and staffing levels. We need to measure turnover, and we need to include it in comparative hospital statistics like HospitalCompare.”
• Murielle Beene, DNP, MBA, MPH, MS, RN-BC: “We thought about the innovative approach that we can take together; we call our approach Together Team or Together Team Virtual Connected Care. It’s a three-person team, a novel care model comprised of a bedside RN, a care partner, and a virtual nurse. The value of working on the care team – people working together on this team balance workload across the team, using their professional judgment to work to their scope of practice.”

Thank you to the 2023 Signature Series sponsors for supporting this year’s programming. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 21, 2023, Washington, D.C. – The Alliance for Health Policy received a $2,000,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to launch a new body of work dedicated to bipartisan learning opportunities focused on health coverage policy in America. This funding will support a new chapter in the Alliance’s 30-plus year history of catalyzing solutions focused, bipartisan dialogue with policymakers.

The environment on Capitol Hill has changed dramatically since the founding of the Alliance more than 30 years ago. These resources will enable the organization to address the request from federal health policy staff to learn as a community.

“The Alliance has served as a trusted educational resource for federal policymakers and the health policy community for over 30 years. This work will enable us to build on our rich history of bipartisanship and bring innovative approaches to health policy education,” said the Alliance President and CEO, Sarah Dash, MPH.

“At RWJF, we believe that access to healthcare is essential to everyone’s ability to achieve and maintain good health – and it is not possible without affordable, quality health insurance coverage,” said Alyson K. Northrup, senior policy officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “This grant will enable the Alliance for Health Policy to bring fresh energy to bipartisan engagement on health coverage policy ideas.”

About the Alliance for Health Policy

The Alliance for Health Policy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping policymakers and the public better understand health policy, the root of the nation’s health care issues, and the trade-offs posed by various proposals for change. We educate congressional and executive agency staff on health policy issues, engage the health care community and stakeholders in solutions-focused dialogues, and convene public webinars on a range of health policy topics and emerging health issues. Regardless of their point of view, our audience recognizes the Alliance’s reputation as a well-respected source for unbiased health policy information. For more information, please visit www.allhealthpolicy.org.

For media inquiries related to the Alliance, please contact Madeline Pennington, mpennington@allhealthpolicy.org.

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is committed to improving health and health equity in the United States. In partnership with others, we are working to develop a Culture of Health rooted in equity that provides every individual with a fair and just opportunity to thrive, no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they have. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.

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