National Forum

Health Equity Benefits Everyone

Thursday, October 27, 2022 • 10:30am – 3:45pm ET

 

The annual meeting program book and meeting proceedings are below. For each session, a video and transcript are provided.

Program Book

Thought- and change-leaders from patients, clinical providers, public health, employers, health plans, academia, quality improvement, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and local, state, and federal governments shared insights and explored new approaches to strengthen public support for health equity and cardiovascular health.

While health equity is a hot topic within public health and healthcare, it gets little traction with the general public. Thus, there is little public pressure to improve health equity. One reason for the relatively low levels of public concern about health equity may be that advocates have not framed it in terms that resonate with persons who do not see themselves affected by inequity.

The National Forum’s 20th Annual Meeting prepared members and stakeholders to make a case for the pursuit of health equity:

  • Diverse panels discussed
    • The Economic Impact of Health Inequity
    • Connecting Health Equity to More Americans’ Priorities
  • Taking Action attendees contributed to the discussion
  • National Forum Annual Business Meeting and presentation of National Forum Awards
Panel 1: Economic Impact of Health Inequity

The panel will address how health inequity costs average Americans–and how much. How does health inequity affect a middle-class family? How does health equity connect to the priorities of people concerned about inflation, jobs, the economy, crime, or individual freedoms?

“Health Inequity is America’s Chronic Condition. It requires upstream action and investments.”
Jay Bhatt

  1.  According to The US Healthcare Can’t Afford Health Inequities, “Health inequities could cost the average American at least $3,000 annually, up from today’s cost of $1,000 per year.” How does health inequity cost the average person money? What trends and forces are driving the cost higher?
  2. Do average Americans pay these costs? In what form?
  3. How might the average American recognize the impact of excess healthcare costs from inequity on their household?
  4. Do these costs affect community prosperity? Residents’ quality of life?  Household budgets?
  5. Do the billions in excess healthcare costs caused by inequity affect the job market? Workers’ pay?  American employers’ competitiveness?
  6. How does health inequity affect state budgets (Medicaid, crowding-out, taxes, etc.)?

Facilitator:
Jay D. Bhatt, DO, MPH, MPA, Managing Director, Deloitte
Executive Director, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions and Health Equity Institute

Panelists:

  • Andrew Davis, Principal, Health Care practice, Deloitte
  • Neil Batra, Principal, Life Sciences and Health Care practice, Deloitte
  • Margaret Guerin-Calvert, Senior Managing Director President, Center for Healthcare Economics and Policy, FTI Consulting

Resources:

Watch Session Video

Download Transcription

Panel 2: Connecting Health Equity to More Americans' Priorities

As the COVID-19 pandemic illuminated health disparities that were hidden in communities’ shadows and George Floyd’s murder raised passions about racial justice, we may have thought, “Now is the moment to advance health equity.” But the moment quickly gave way to arguments over how to re-open society after COVID, and concerns about crime, the economy, climate change, democracy, and access to abortion care.

Health equity remains top of mind for many of us in healthcare and public health. But it is way down the list of many Americans’ priorities—if it’s on the list at all.

This panel will address framing, specific words, concepts, and messages that will resonate with people who have not yet recognized that health equity affects them, and people like them.

How can we build and broaden public support for programs, policies, systems, and environmental changes that will improve health equity?

  1. How do elected leaders in rural and suburban communities establish and sustain interventions that improve health equity?
  2. What lessons from how they frame and talk about conditions that affect health equity can we apply in our work?
  3. How can we help more Americans see that their big concerns can be addressed by programs and policies that also improve health equity?

Facilitator:
Warren A. Jones, MD, FAAFP, National Forum Chair
Captain, United States Navy Medical Corps (Ret.)
Professor Emeritus, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Founder, Mississippi Institute for Improvement of Geographic Minority Health and Health Disparities, Former Executive Director, Mississippi Division of Medicaid

Panelists:

  • Christina Muryn, Mayor of Findlay, Ohio
  • Rod Craig, Mayor of Village of Hanover Park, Illinois
  • Joshua Harris, Senior Manager of Communications, Voices for Healthy Kids
  • Francesca Weaks, DrPH, MCHES, Executive Director, The Genevieve Strategies Group

Resources:

Watch Session Video

Download Transcription

Taking Action

Taking Action!  (Approaches, Experiences with messaging, and Actions planned or done)
Members and other participants can ‘step up to the mic’ and share your organization’s approaches, experiences, and actions to address health inequity. (Up to two minutes per speaker/organization).  This is an excellent opportunity to join the conversation following the panels and help shift the conversation into action.

Attendees can ‘step up to the mic’ to share a quick (<2-minute update) that helps us all see the canvas we’re working on together. (Comments should focus on the meeting topic, not general updates or announcements.)  Where there are multiple attendees from an organization, please coordinate a single update.

Process:  If you want to share and have not already confirmed your commitment (25 slots), please notify the event team through the Q&A button (provide your name and organization to alert the facilitator that you would like to present.)  We will let you know when it’s your turn – and set you up to be able to turn on your camera and mic. We truly value your engagement – and this is the Forum for sharing!

Watch Session Video

Download Transcription

Chat Box Notes

National Forum Past Chairs Reflect on Their Leadership Years

National Forum Past Chairs Reflect on Their Leadership Years

1. What is something you remember from your leadership year?

2. What was a key highlight? (Personal, organizational, etc.)

3. How has the National Forum affected cardiovascular health and health disparities?

Click the Image Below for the Video Montage

Speakers

  • Image of John Clymer
    John Clymer
    Executive Director, National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
  • Image of Jay Bhatt, DO, MPH, MPA
    Jay Bhatt, DO, MPH, MPA
    Managing Director, ED, Center for Health Solutions and Health Equity Institute, Deloitte Services LP
  • Image of Warren Jones, MD, FAAFP
    Warren Jones, MD, FAAFP
    Professor Emeritus of Family Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center
  • Image of Christina Muryn
    Christina Muryn
    Mayor, Findlay, Ohio
  • Image of Rodney Craig
    Rodney Craig
    Mayor, Village of Hanover Park, Illinois
  • Image of Joshua Harris
    Joshua Harris
    Senior Communications Manager, Voices for Healthy Kids
  • Image of Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, RN, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN
    Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, RN, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN
    University Chief Wellness Officer and Dean, College of Nursing, The Ohio State University
  • Image of Neal Batra
    Neal Batra
    Principal, Deloitte
  • Image of Andrew Davis
    Andrew Davis
    Principal, Deloitte
  • Image of Francesca Weaks, DrPH
    Francesca Weaks, DrPH
    Executive Director, The Genevieve Strategies Group LLC
  • Image of Margaret E. Guerin-Calvert
    Margaret E. Guerin-Calvert
    Senior Managing Director, President, Center for Healthcare Economics and Policy, FTI Consulting

Annual Meeting Sponsors

Silver

AstraZeneca