Advocacy & Policy

Overview

Government & Community Relations works with law makers, government agencies, and advocacy organizations at the local, state, and federal levels to help shape policy as it is being created, to ensure laws and regulations implemented by policy makers can serve the best interest of Cleveland Clinic's patients. We work to ensure that government supports the treatments and programs that make the most impact on the health of the patients and communities we serve.

The team also identifies potential medical research and funding opportunities that support health, wellness, and preventive care, which can lead to improved outcomes for all patients.

Our work centers around the Let's Move It® initiative – Government & Community Relations' strategy for improving the overall well-being of the residents in the communities we serve by positively "moving the dial" on advocacy and policy, healthy lifestyles, education and economic vitality.

Local, State and Federal

Cleveland Clinic's advocacy activities at the local, state and federal levels are primarily focused in the areas of healthcare delivery system reforms. Specifically, we are interested in issues related to access to healthcare, patient outcomes, quality of care, wellness, health information technology adoption, physician education and provider reimbursements. These activities can take many forms including support of legislation, providing comment on proposed regulations, participating in ad hoc committees, and offering testimony in state and federal legislative committee hearings. Cleveland Clinic participates in coalitions with peer institutions to maximize the impact of our efforts.

Cleveland Clinic has taken a leadership position on several issues at the local, state and federal levels including:

Ensuring Healthcare Access - Insurance Coverage
Population Health - Four Quadrants of Wellness
Medical Education
Reimbursement Reform - Quality-Based Reimbursement
Responsible Pain Management
Health Information Technology
Disease Screening and Prevention - Tobacco Cessation
Behavioral Health
Substance Abuse

Local Government

Government Relations works with mayors, councils, law enforcement, and other local officials to respond to important issues that affect the lives of the people in the communities where Cleveland Clinic patients live and work.

State Government

Government Relations interacts with the Ohio General Assembly, the Ohio Department of Medicaid, the Ohio Department of Health, the Governor's Office of Health Transformation, the Ohio Attorney General's Office, and State Licensing Boards to help shape key policies and legislation that impact hospitals, patients, and community members across the state.

Federal Government

The Government and Policy teams interact with federal legislators, including members of the Ohio Congressional Delegation, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), particularly the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Institutes of Health.

We also work with the Department of Defense, the National Quality Forum (NQF), and the Department of Veteran Affairs to help shape federal policies and laws to positively influence the health of our nation’s heroes and all Americans.

Resources

Cleveland Clinic partners with many agencies and organizations to shape health policies. More information on these partners can be found below:

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