CHT Moves Toward National Expansion With Launch of MO Project
To: STATE EDITORS
Contact: Megan Meehan of the Center for Health Transformation, +1- 202-375-2063
ST. LOUIS, April 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Center for Health Transformation (CHT), an organization founded by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, today announced plans to continue expansion throughout the U.S. with the opening of a new office in St. Louis, Missouri.
Julie Eckstein, former Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, has joined the Center for Health Transformation as Director of State Operations. Ms. Eckstein will also lead the Center’s newly launched Missouri Project.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to be part of such a great organization with a mission that I strongly believe in – the need to transform our health and healthcare delivery systems,” said Ms. Eckstein. “It feels like a perfect fit with the diverse background I have had in community and public health, along with many aspects of healthcare delivery in hospitals, outpatient rehab, long-term care facilities and community-based health.”
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Center for Health Transformation actively collaborates with nearly forty states, with members and allies playing key roles in the identification and development of the models that are transforming health and healthcare.
Ms. Eckstein noted the continued success of CHT in helping to create and implement transformational solutions to create a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that will save lives and save money. “With the caliber of leaders from around the country we now have engaged in this work, we are sure to be successful.”
The first step in the national expansion of the Center is being referred to as the Missouri Project. This will be an opportunity to replicate the successes of CHT’s groundbreaking Georgia Project, launched in 2003, which serves as an implementation project to identify and build models to replicate in other states. In February of this year, CHT was designated as Georgia’s “Community Leader for Value-Driven Healthcare,” by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt.
“The Center’s Georgia and Missouri initiatives are critical to the Center’s ability to accelerate system-wide health transformation,” said CHT CEO and President Nancy Desmond. “In both of these states, we have a unique opportunity to generate and monitor projects to test solutions that promote value-based healthcare, increase access, and reduce costs.”
Like Georgia, the Missouri Project will be a model for how to implement innovative solutions in a defined geographic area.
“To build the Missouri Project, we invite current CHT members who have a presence in Missouri, as well as others in the state, to join an advisory board to help guide the work,” said Ms. Eckstein, noting that next steps would include completing an environmental scan of what is already happening around the state, identifying need areas or gaps in leadership around critical topics, and prioritizing those opportunities.
“Once prioritized, we will hit the ground running to develop interventions or initiatives that can help us achieve defined goals,” said Ms. Eckstein. “There are many potential topics: health information technology, covering the uninsured, chronic disease management, the consumer’s right to know, and so many more. I think once leaders get involved they will be energized by the potential and by the amazing minds around the table. I know I have been impressed by the current members, numbering almost 100, and by the current work of CHT. Because it is bipartisan in nature we have involvement and support from all angles. I am eager to make great things happen in Missouri.”
The Center plans to hold its first meeting of the Missouri Project advisory board in late June. To become involved in the Missouri Project, contact Julie Eckstein at jeckstein@gingrichgroup.com.
The Center for Health Transformation, founded by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, is a high-impact collaboration of private and public sector leaders committed to creating a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that saves lives and saves money for all Americans. The membership of the Center for Health Transformation is comprised of employers, hospitals, insurers, solution-providers, pharmaceuticals, government leaders, physician groups, professional and industry associations, research institutions and think tanks, disease advocacy groups, and many others who are committed to accelerating the adoption of transformational solutions and policies for better health and more choices at lower cost. For more information, visit http:// www.healthtransformation.net.
SOURCE Center for Health Transformation
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