The Consumer Connection Jennifer Sweeney, Director Americans for Quality Health Care National Partnership for Women & Families

The National Partnership for Women & Families is: A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization Our Priorities: Improve health care quality Improve health care quality Promote fairness in the workplace Promote fairness in the workplace Advance policies that help women and men meet the dual demands of work and family. Advance policies that help women and men meet the dual demands of work and family.

Poor Quality Care Is Rampant 50/50 chance of getting the right care Medical Errors Variations in care Disparities Lack of Patient Empowerment

Despite the statistics on quality, loyalty remains…. My doctor provides good care How Do We Know?

Consumers are: Focused on rising costs and lack of coverage. Uncertain how to navigate the current system. Unaware that health care quality varies or that the health care system is rife with waste and overuse, misuse and underuse. Circumspect when employer or health plan presents the quality argument.

Goal: Recruit, educate, and mobilize consumer advocates to engage in efforts to improve health care quality and increase transparency. Communities: Communities: Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Maine, Memphis, Minneapolis, Portland OR, Research Triangle NC, Seattle, Trenton NJ, Western Michigan, Western New York, Wisconsin. Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Maine, Memphis, Minneapolis, Portland OR, Research Triangle NC, Seattle, Trenton NJ, Western Michigan, Western New York, Wisconsin.

Challenge of Working with Consumer Advocates: Improving Access is the Focus *But, quality is inextricably linked to cost and access. *What could we do with all the money we would save if we improved quality of care?

The Perfect Storm: Advocates working to improve access AND quality of care.

Jennifer Sweeney, Director