.
The Health Policy Advocacy committee is responsible for:
- Developing an educational program for advocacy at the state and national level.
- Developing a clearing house for ideas, problem solving, education and information at the state and national level.
- Determining other advocacy goals.
From the Health Policy Advocacy Chair:
The current healthcare environment is in a period of rapid change due to increased focus on number of factors: quality of care, patient safety, cost-controlling measures, and accountability. Policymakers are working to define “Quality of Care” for the various patient populations and are changing payment structures to encourage systems to provide higher quality at lower cost. They are receiving input from a variety of sources. As care providers for patients with Spinal Cord Injury, we represent a very small subset of the population with a very distinct set of needs. If the voices of our patients are to be heard among the many voices speaking to policymakers, we must promote active involvement.
The strategic focus of ASIA’s Health Policy Advocacy Committee (HPAC) has two main components:
- Collaborating with and supporting the efforts of like-minded organizations that promote the welfare of patients with SCI.
- Ensuring that the healthcare providers who serve patients with SCI will be empowered to provide excellent care.
The HPAC has an active core of members, and we can always use more help. If you are interested in joining the committee or have a special advocacy interest, please feel free to contact me, Matt Davis (matthew.davis@memorialhermann.org) for further information.
CO-Chair: Matthew Davis, MD
TIRR Memorial Hermann
Houston, TX
Co-Chair: Jeffrey Berliner, DO
Craig Hospital
Englewood, CO
Board Liaison: Indira Lanig, MD
Paradigm SCI Medical Director
Denver, Colorado
Committee Members
- Morgan Brubaker, DO
Craig Hospital – Englewood, CO - Anne Bryden, PhD, OTR/L
Case Western Reserve University – Cleveland, OH - James D. Crew, MD
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center – San Jose, CA - Gary Farkas, PhD
The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine – Miami, FL - Sara Granda
California Dept. of Health Care Services – Davis, California - Kristin Gustafson, DO
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital – Philadelphia, PA - Rita G. Hamilton, DO
Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation – Dallas, TX - Jane Wierbicky
United Spinal Association
