News
2017
Health & Medicine Remembers Leslie Nickels, MEd, PhD
November 27, 2017Health & Medicine is saddened to share the passing of Leslie Nickels, MEd, PhD. Leslie recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Health & Medicine in honor of her many contributions to worker health, safety, and justice. She is also a former board member and made enormous contributions to many Health & Medicine initiatives, most recently our Quentin D. Young Equity Project.
IL ACEs Response Collaborative Releases Environmental Scan
November 14, 2017As recognition of the widespread impact of trauma increases, the desire to provide trauma-informed care is at the forefront of a movement to build resilience and prevent and mitigate the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Given the growing momentum for change and the need to bolster awareness of promising practices in trauma-informed care, the Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative at Health & Medicine researched over 300 programs to develop this Environmental Scan Report.
Health & Medicine Testifies Before County Board in Support of Funded Health System
November 6, 2017On Thursday, November 2, Health & Medicine's Executive Director Margie Schaps presented the following testimony at the Cook County Board Budget Hearing. My name is Margie Schaps, and I am the Executive Director of the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group. I want to thank the Board for allowing the opportunity to testify in support of a fully funded Cook County Health and Hospitals system budget. Since 1981, Health and Medicine has been an organization committed to developing and supporting systems and policies that create a healthier society.
New Report Points to Barriers to Mental Health, Addiction Coverage
September 19, 2017Today, Health & Medicine in collaboration with a group of organizations including the Kennedy Forum, the Illinois Psychiatric Society, the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association, and others who seek to improve mental health and addiction treatment released a new report pointing to significant barriers to coverage. The report highlights the results of a provider survey asking hospitals, psychiatrists and community providers about their experiences with reimbursement for mental health and addiction services. The survey findings raise red flags about a number of potential barriers to services that families may face and whether Illinois’ health plans are providing mental health and addiction treatment on par with other types of medical conditions, which is required by state and federal parity laws for most plans.
Health & Medicine Stands with Dreamers
September 5, 2017Health & Medicine stands with Illinois' over 40,000 Dreamers and the thousands more across the country. The young people affected by the decision of this Administration to end DACA are our neighbors, our friends, and our co-workers including the many young doctors, nurses, and health professionals who are Dreamers and now, after years of hard work, could lose everything. These young people contribute to the vibrancy of their neighborhoods and strengthen the fabric and health of our communities.
Health & Medicine, Public Health Woke Coalition Testify Before CCCHHS Board on Protecting Immigrant Health
September 1, 2017On September 1, 2017 Health & Medicine's Director of Health Equity Wesley Epplin and Board Member Linda Murray, MD, MPH testified at to the Cook County Health and Hospitals Systems Board meeting on ensuring that the health system’s hospitals and clinics are welcoming and affirming spaces for all patients. Both Epplin and Murray reiterated the policy recommendations of the Public Health Woke Coaltion, of which Health & Medicine is a lead member, that CCHHS should adopt to ensure their facilities are truly safe for all patients.
Health & Medicine Testifies in Support of Fully Funded Public Hospital and Health System
August 31, 2017On Tuesday, August 29th, Health & Medicine Executive Director Margie Schaps testified before the Cook County Health and Hospitals System with regards to their proposed 2018 budget.
Health & Medicine unites with advocates, aging community to protect services for Illinois’ most vulnerable population
August 24, 2017The following is a statement on behalf of Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, Jane Addams Senior Caucus, Caring Across Generations, and SEIU Healthcare Illinois in response to the withdrawal of rules that would have forced 36,000 vulnerable Illinois seniors out of the Community Care Program and into the unproven and untested Community Reinvestment Program:
Health & Medicine Announces 2017 HMPRG Award Winners
July 26, 2017Health & Medicine is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 HMPRG Awards representing leaders in the fields of policy, public health, medicine, research, and advocacy whose work exemplifies Health & Medicine’s mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care. “Today, so many voices for equity are emerging and […]
Health & Medicine Urges County Board: Do Not Under-Fund CCHHS
July 14, 2017On Wednesday, July 12, Director of Health Equity Wesley Epplin spoke at the Cook County Preliminary Budget hearing for FY2018 on the need to increase the tax allocation for the Cook County Health & Hospital System (CCHHS) in the County budget. The Health System has faced several years of reductions in the County’s tax allocation, and Epplin urged the Board of Commissioners not to under-fund CCHHS, which provides vital health services to our community.
Call Your Congressperson Today to Stop the BCRA
June 27, 2017Health & Medicine Policy Research Group condemns the recent assault on the health safety net. The Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), like the House of Representatives’ American Health Care Act (AHCA) is an attack on the American people, developed behind closed doors specifically because its provisions are so unpopular. Their hope is the less sunlight shined on this proposal, the more likely it is to pass. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scored the BCRA bill and predicts 22 million people would lose coverage if it were passed, an unprecedented move in the wrong direction. We urge action! Call your U.S. Congressperson to let them know that you want them to help kill the bill!
June 14-Day of Action: Tell Gov. Rauner and Members of Congress to oppose cuts and caps on Medicaid
June 13, 2017Senate Republicans are working behind closed doors on their version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). Like the House bill, the “revamped” AHCA would throw millions off of health care and gut Medicaid, harming older Americans, kids and their families, people with disabilities, and those seeking treatment for substance use disorders. Health & Medicine and Protect our Care Illinois urge you to take time tomorrow, June 14, to join advocates across the country to help us stop this!
“CCHHS must provide safe, affirming sanctuary in all of its facilities”
June 7, 2017On May 26, Health & Medicine's Director of Health Equity Wesley Epplin and Board Member Linda Rae Murray again testified before the Cook County Health and Hospitals System Board, urging the System to ensure that all patients and clients of the CCHHS are provided safe, affirming sanctuary in all of its facilities. Epplin and Murray's remarks follow-up on similar testimony earlier this year.
2017 Schweitzer Leadership Award to Honor Ai-Jen Poo
June 5, 2017Health & Medicine Policy Research Group and the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship Program and pleased to announce that Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, has been selected for the 2017 Schweitzer Leadership Award. Each year, Schweitzer Leadership Award honors and an individual who has done significant work to mitigate the social determinants of health in their community, and whose commitment to service has influenced and inspired others.
Health & Medicine Releases New Report on “Strengthening the Safety Net in Illinois After Health Reform”
June 1, 2017In late 2016, Health & Medicine completed new research on the Cook County safety net in partnership with Loyola and others to capture how this reformed environment has impacted Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), free and charitable clinics (FCCs), and hospitals. Our report, Strengthening the Safety Net in Illinois After Health Reform: An Examination of the Cook County Safety Net, is designed to deepen understanding of a sampling of the safety net in Cook County while providing recommendations for policymakers and philanthropy, as well as identifying areas for further research to guide health reform and policy.
It’s #ILGiveCommunity! Support the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship
May 31, 2017Today is Illinois' day of charitable giving, and we hope you’ll make a gift in support of our Schweitzer Fellows as they give back to our underserved communities by providing health services, education, and resilience-building. You can learn more about their efforts and meet our newest class of Fellows here. Click here to make a donation and support this inspiring Program. #ILGiveCommunity
Health & Medicine and the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship Announce 2017-18 Fellows
May 30, 2017The Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship, a year-long service learning program that empowers aspiring health professionals to design and direct innovative community service projects, today announced its newest class of Fellows. The thirty exceptional graduate students selected for the Fellowship proposed impactful community-based projects to address the health needs of underserved Chicagoans.
Health & Medicine Issues Statement on Passage of ACA Repeal
May 4, 2017Health & Medicine’s Executive Director Margie Schaps today released a statement on the passage of the American Health Care Act. We at Health & Medicine stand in solidarity with the over 60% of Americans who believe that the government should be responsible for ensuring health coverage for all Americans. We are horrified by the vote just taken in the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal the Affordable Care Act, thereby removing health coverage for 24million people.
Health & Medicine Urges CCHHS Board to take Leadership Role in Protecting Immigrants and other Marginalized Groups
May 3, 2017On April 28, 2017 Health & Medicine’s Director of Health Equity, Wesley Epplin, testified before the Cook County Health & Hospitals Board in response to changes in immigration policies in the County providing recommendations on issues System's leadership and staff should respond to in order to protect patients.
New Online Resources Released to Support Health Workforce for Older Adults
April 25, 2017Health & Medicine would like to announce two great resources recently made available online: CATCH-ON and ENGAGE-IL. Our own Chicago Area Health Education Center (AHEC) at Health & Medicine and Center for Long Term Care Reform have teamed up to help review and define these two programs as a way to increase access to learning and professional development opportunities for health professionals; promote health careers development to students; and enhance collaborative, community-based health promotion activities.
Health & Medicine Releases Statement to the CCHHS Board Concerning Changes in Immigration
February 27, 2017On February 24, 2017 Health & Medicine Board Member Linda Rae Murray M.D. MPH testified before the Cook County Health & Hospitals Board in response to changes in immigration policies in the County.
Board Member Lon Berkeley honored by HRSA for lifelong commitment to community service
January 20, 2017During Health & Medicine's January Board meeting, founding Board Member Lon Berkeley was honored by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) Office of Regional Operations for his lifelong commitment and dedication to community service, health equity, and engagement with the underserved community to improve overall health. Rick Wilk, Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HRSA Chicago Regional Office – Region V, presented the commendation to Berkeley on the occasion of his retirement from the Joint Commission where he has worked since 1997, serving as the Project Director for the Community Health Center Accreditation initiative since it was launched in 2011. Prior to his time at the Joint Commission, Berkeley was the Executive Director of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association.
