The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44305

Joseph Ahern, George David Weiner, PhD, and Terry Lenahan, MBA. Federation for Community Planning, 1226 Huron Road, Suite 300, Cleveland, OH 44115, 216.781.2944, jahern@fcp.org

In early 1998, The Gallup Organization, under contract with the Ohio Department of Health, conducted interviews with one adult in each of 16,261 Ohio households, and collected information about 5,788 children from interviews with these adult family members. Information included demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, health insurance coverage, access to care and financial burden, utilization of health care services, current health status and personal risk factors, and unmet health care needs. Survey questions were modeled after several well-known national survey instruments, including the National Health Interview Survey, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Current Population Survey and SF12 Physical and Mental Health Summary Scores. Through a collaborative local financing effort, nearly 1,500 adults and 500 children in Cuyahoga County were surveyed, providing Ohio's most populous county with unique insights into the extent, distribution and problems of the uninsured.

In 2001, the Federation for Community Planning contracted with the Gallup Organization to conduct the Cuyahoga County Family Health Survey to provide comparable data in order to assess the impact of environmental and policy changes on insurance status, access and utilization.

As a result of this local initiative, Cuyahoga County is unique among urban areas in Ohio and nationally, having a wealth of baseline data and the ability to assess changes over a three-year period marked by major economic and social transformations. This paper will discuss findings from each of the surveys, as well as illustrate how the information is being used to influence policy public and private initiatives.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Understand the logic, organization, and findings from this community survey.
• Identify the principal antecedents and consequences of lack of health insurance.
• Apply process in their communities.

Keywords: Health Insurance, Access to Care

Related Web page: www.fcp.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.