2014 HCF Policy Agendas

On February 7, 2007, the HCF Executive Committee adopted the following public policy priorities:

  • Promoting universal health coverage for the uninsured and underinsured
  • Reducing disparities in access to quality health care/mental health care (racial, socioeconomic, and geographic)
  • Improving health care/mental health care prevention strategies

These policy priorities provide a broad vision of the policies that fit with HCF’s mission. As we approach 2012, HCF has developed tier I and tier II policy agendas. The function of these agendas is to provide more focused guidance.

These agendas will guide the dedication of HCF’s internal resources, including staff time, initiative funds, and operating budget expenses. We will continue to consider a funding relationship with all organizations whose advocacy work supports the three broad policy priorities listed above.

Tier I

Tier I activities are those which HCF will assume a leadership role and dedicate a substantial amount of its human resources.

  • High priority for HCF.
  • HCF plans to be intensively involved, oftentimes taking a leading role.
  • HCF will offer significant resources, either through funding, staff time, political capital or all three.

Tier 2

Tier II efforts will involve collaborating with health coalitions and others whose mission and values closely reflect those of HCF.

  • Priority for HCF.
  • HCF plans to be involved, but will not be leading the effort.
  • HCF will offer some resources, including funding, staff time, and political

Tier 1

  1. Participate in efforts to encourage both Kansas and Missouri to expand Medicaid, as allowed for in the Affordable Care Act.
  2. Build a field of advocates in support of policies that promote environmental change that advances healthy eating and active living.
  3. Build the capacity of individual grantees to engage in policy advocacy through:
    • Technical assistance for direct service providers seeking to further engage in policy advocacy.
    • Annual public opinion survey to gauge public support for various health-related causes.
    • Shared political analysis

    Tier 2

    1. Support others in fully implementing the Affordable Care Act, including any policy issues that arise from development of health insurance marketplaces.
    2. Provide funding for research and associated convenings to surface the legal and policy barriers to the provision of integrated care.
    3. Continue to participate in statewide efforts in Missouri and Kansas to advance policies related to healthy eating and active living.