For Immediate Release
May 10, 2006

Contact: Megan Licursi
513-404-2545

The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati Launches Initiative to Provide Access to Primary Care to Everyone in Region

The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, together with 50 healthcare providers and community leaders from around the region, has launched the Regional Primary Care Access Initiative. This initiative is an indicator of the Health Foundation’s commitment to achieving 100 percent access to primary healthcare for the people of Greater Cincinnati.

Donald Hoffman, president and CEO of the Health Foundation said, “We know that having access to healthcare results in better health and a better quality of life. It is time for our region to come together and achieve 100 percent access for all.”

In 2003, the Health Foundation began working with healthcare providers and community leaders to increase primary care access and specialty services in underserved areas, and to explore affordable coverage options.

“The healthcare delivery system within our 20-county service area has many assets such as federally-qualified health centers and private, public and hospital-based resources,” said Judith Warren, a program officer at the Health Foundation who oversees community primary care. “However, these resources are not evenly distributed throughout the region, and people in some areas do not have access to healthcare services.”

To accomplish the goal of 100 percent access, the Health Foundation has gathered a diverse group of stakeholders to develop an integrated delivery system that will:

• increase the number of children and adults who have a regular place to get
  medical and dental care by looking at ways to redistribute healthcare resources in the region;
• reduce the number of uninsured by creating affordable coverage options for
  low-income working families and employees of small businesses; and
• increase appropriate use of healthcare resources by improving access to specialty services in underserved areas and stabilizing medical and dental providers who devote all or a significant portion of their resources to serving the uninsured.

The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati is an independent foundation dedicated to improving the health of the people of the Cincinnati region. The Foundation awards grants to non-profit and governmental organizations for selected health programs and activities in Cincinnati and 20 surrounding counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. In 2005, the Health Foundation invested approximately $11.3 million to support local health care programs that address the objectives of the Foundation's four focus areas and general community health.