These resources for covering local health stories are from Barbara Feder Ostrov (bfeder@usc.edu) and Mark Taylor (markic46321@yahoo.com). Because these sources are different in every community, we have provided links to state-by-state lists of local institutions and agencies where we can.
From Barbara Feder Ostrov, here are resources on covering community health stories:
Knowing Your Health Care Universe: You should include these people and key institutions in your source list.
- Health providers (doctors, nurses, unionized health workers, health profession students)
- Health care institutions (community clinics, hospitals, large medical groups, nursing homes)
- Health payers (private insurers that serve your area, Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, TriCare/military)
- Health consumers (patients). Some reporters keep lists of patients with various medical conditions
- Local universities (medical school, medical research, school of public health)
- Local government (safety net hospital, public health department)
- Regulators (state/federal government, hospital accrediting bodies, medical boards)
- Unions (health care workers)
- Lobbying Groups (representing interests of doctors, clinics, etc.)
- Health Advocates (representing interests of patients/uninsured)
Breaking it down:
COUNTY LEVEL AGENCIES
County or city public health department – oversees immunizations, disease outbreaks, HIV/AIDS, etc.
County or city health services agency - oversees public hospital, clinics, local Medicaid/SCHIP
Environmental Services Department - West Nile, contaminated swimming pools, etc.
Planning and Zoning (can affect hospital or clinic expansion/closures)
Mental health/substance abuse agencies
SOURCES: COUNTY LEVEL PLAYERS
School–based health clinics and nurses
County medical association or society – organization of local doctors
Community Clinic Association/Consortium – lobbies for and supports local clinics
Area Agency on Aging – deals with Medicare, elder abuse issues
SOURCES: STATE LEVEL
Department of Managed Health Care – California agency that regulates HMOs
Department of Insurance – regulates both HMO and PPO insurance in most states
Health and Human Services Agency – oversees health and social services departments including:
Department of Public Health – deals with outbreaks, food safety, TB, immunizations, etc.
State medical board – oversight of doctors
State nursing and other health profession board – oversight of health workers
SOURCES: FEDERAL
Regional Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services – investigates fraud, nursing homes, hospitals treating Medicare patients
Regional Health and Human Services offices – where to review hospital inspection reports
SOURCES: OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
Malpractice lawyers
State chapters of specialty boards (emergency medicine, etc.)
Local chapters of health worker unions like SEIU
ADVOCATES/LOBBYISTS
These are examples of advocates and lobbyists in California – there are similar groups in your state.
Health Access – advocacy group promoting access to health care for all
Consumer Watchdog – advocacy group, focuses on health insurance issues
California Primary Care Association – represents 600+ community clinics
California State Rural Health Association – represents rural clinics and hospitals
California Medical Association – represents interests of doctors
Bonus Resource: Center for Health Journalism Digital offers topic-specific tipsheets for online resources here.
Covering Health Business Issues
These resources for covering health business stories are from Mark Taylor:
Who pays for it all
America's Health Insurance Plans: lobbying organization for health plans covering 200 million Americans. Karen Ignani, president. Susan Pisano, Vice President of Communications (202) 778-3200
Pacific Business Group on Health: West Coast business coalition that leverages $12 billion in purchasing power to cover more than three million employees and retirees. Big driver of value based purchasing and quality initiatives. Nicole Kohleriter, Senior Communications Officer
Email: nkohleriter@pbgh.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: (415) 615-6331
Mobile: (415) 385-2283
National Business Group on Health: Washington-based organization comprised of primarily Fortune 500 companies and large public sector employers insuring 50 million employees and family members. Ed Emerman eemerman@eaglepr.com
609-275-5162
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association: Chicago-based association representing 39 blues plans insuring 100 million lives. Scott Serota, president. Press contact: 202.626.8625. www.bcbs.com
Employee Benefit Research Institute: Washington-based research organization Paul Fronstin, Ph.D., Director, Health Research & Education Program 202/775/6352, fronstin@ebri.org. Press: Tracey Young, EBRI (media relations), 202/775/6329, young@ebri.org
Hospital Associations:
American Hospital Association: Chicago-based lobbying organization for America's hospitals, the largest trade organization and a giant in the health reform discussions. Maintains many stats and conducts studies about hospitals and health policy. Generally responsive to reporters seeking info on legal, policy, patient safety, financing and other issues affecting hospitals. Also good for connecting to state, regional, city and other hospital associations. Media contacts: Matthew Fenwick, 312-422-2820, mfenwick@aha.org/ Associate Director of Media Relations, Elizabeth Lietz, 202-626-2284, elietz@aha.org/Communications Coordinator, Carly Moore, 202-638-5487, cmoore@aha.org
Association of American Medical Colleges: AAMC represents all 134 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools, around 400 teaching hospitals and health systems and 62 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers. AAMC staffers are pretty knowledgeable about issues of medical education, physician work force, academic medical centers and federal funding. Contact Lesley Ward Senior Media Relations Specialist at 202-828-0655. lward@aamc.org
National Rural Health Association
Alan Morgan, CEO, Phone: 202-639-0550 E-mail: morgan@NRHArural.org/
Lindsey Corey, Director of communications and marketing, Phone: 816-756-3140 x22 E-mail: lcorey@NRHArural.org
Federation of American Hospitals: President and CEO Chip Kahn. The Federation represents for profit, or investor owned hospitals, such publicly traded chains. Richard Coorsh, press (202) 624-1527, rcoorsh@fah.org
Catholic Health Association of the United States, Fred Caesar, Special Assistant to the President, Phone: (202) 721-6321
American College of Healthcare Executives: Chicago-based lobbying, training and educational organization for hospital and other healthcare executives. Good for obtaining salary information and learning issues affecting hospitals. President and CEO Thomas Dolan. Lisa M. Freund Vice President Communications and marketing (312) 424-9420 lfreund@ache.org.
Somebody Help Me! I've fallen into a Medicare Cost Report and I Can't Get Up
Healthcare Financial Management Association: An educational, trade and lobbying group representing hospital and other healthcare financial executives. HFMA is very plugged into hospital financial issues. It's worth getting to know a few hospital financial people, who can help you decipher IRS 990 and Medicare Cost Report forms. HFMA President and CEO is Dick Clarke, but the group has helpful media affairs staff. Toll-free: (800) 252-4362. Westmont, IL office (708) 531-9600. Washington D.C. Office (202) 296-2920.
American Hospital Directory: This Louisville-based data organization offers complimentary subscriptions to journalists and offers great data on hospitals. 800-894-8418
costreportdata.com – The same company offers free subscriptions to journalists to obtain access to federal Medicare cost report data. Contact Barbara Eilert at beilert@eilertinc.com to get a free subscription.
Hospital Compare – Federal website that allows you to compare hospitals for quality, cost, patient satisfaction and other health issues. http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov/
Guidestar: online service www.guidestar.org maintains data base of hospital and other nonprofit organization tax filings called 990s. Registration is required.
Nursing Homes
American Health Care Association – represents both for profits and not for profit nursing homes. Press office is 202-898-6317
LeadingAge: The former American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) changed its name this year to LeadingAge, which represents 5,600 not for profit nursing homes. Sarah Mashburn, press contact: smashburn@LeadingAge.org. Call 202-508-9492
HHS' Administration on Aging: Federal agency under U.S. Department of Health and Human Services dealing with older Americans and their caregivers. Stats about seniors and info about programs to protect seniors. Media Inquiries: (202) 357-3507. This website lists state ombudsmen:
Other long term care advocacy and trade links include:
National Association for the Support of Long Term Care
Coalition to Protect Senior Care
Nursing Home Compare: Federal data site comparing nursing homes on quality and patient safety issues.
SNFdata.com: a subscription website free to journalists that tracks data on skilled nursing facilities (SNFs).
Doctors and the company they keep
American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers; a group representing outpatient surgery centers. (703) 836.8808
American Medical Association: Largest lobbying organization representing physicians. Robert Mills, AMA spokesman (312) 464-5970
Medical Group Management Association: Trade association of leaders of medical group practices. Press contact is Liz Johnson 303 799-1111 x 347. Publishes useful survey reports on physician compensation and other data.
National Association of Community Health Centers: an association representing the nation's 1,250 community health centers serving a primarily poor and uninsured population of 20 million. Tom Van Coverden President and CEO. Call 301-347-0400.
Useful National Consumer Advocacy and Quality Organizations
Families USA: grassroots consumer health advocacy and information organization based in Washington, D.C. Ron Pollack Executive, 202/628-3030, Communications Director: David Lemmon -- dlemmon@familiesusa.org
Public Citizen Health Research Group, Founder and Director Sidney Wolfe, M.D. Consumer organization that tracks physicians in trouble, harmful drugs and other health related issues. Call Angela Bradbery, Director of Communications (202) 588-7741 abradbery@citizen.org or Dorry Samuels, Press Office Coordinator
(202) 588-7742 dsamuels@citizen.org.
Joint Commission: Organization that accredits hospitals and other healthcare organizations and periodically inspects them to tracks hospital quality and safety issues and compiles public reports. Mark Chassin, M.D., president . Elizabeth Eaken Zhani Media Relations Manager 630-792-5914
Center for Studying Health System Change: Washington-based think tank that conducts studies of healthcare markets, access and costs. Paul Ginsburg, President: (202) 484-5261. Alwyn Cassil is one of the most knowledgeable and helpful media staffer in healthcare. (202) 271 9260/ 202.264.3484. .
The Leapfrog Group: healthcare quality organization.
National Quality Forum: patient safety and quality isues. Erin Reese, media relations staff at 202-783-1300 press@qualityforum.org
Lawyers Can Be A Reporter's Best Friend
American Bar Association: Health Law Section - The ABA has a huge health law section, with experts in healthcare tax, antitrust, mergers and acquisitions, fraud and abuse and other areas of health law. Press Contact: Rachel Estrada Phone:312-988-6148 Email: estradar@staff.abanet.org
American Health Lawyers Association - Peter Liebold, President. Can recommend local lawyers specializing in healthcare law issues and topics. Phone: (202) 833-1100
American Association for Justice, formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America: This association represents plaintiff attorneys, such as those that sue hospitals and doctors for medical malpractice and wrongful deaths. Call 800.424.2725 or 202.965.3500 ext. 8369.
National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Offices: Organization representing states Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs), which investigate and prosecute Medicaid fraud. Barbara L. Zelner, Executive Director (202) 326-6000
National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Press Center: Lists state attorneys general and national priorities, often in healthcare. (202) 326-6027
Taxpayers Against Fraud: whistleblower support organization for qui tam lawyers, a great source on healthcare fraud issues. Cleveland Lawrence III, Acting Executive Director (202) 296-4826 x 27/ Patrick Burns, Communications Director (202) 296-4826
U.S. Justice Department/U.S. Attorneys: Many federal civil and criminal cases are filed against healthcare providers and organizations by the Main Justice Department in Washington, D.C., or by the nation's U.S. Attorneys. DOJ regularly reports on healthcare fraud cases.
PACER: Public Access to Court Electronic Records. Enables reporters and others to look up lawsuits, criminal cases and bankruptcies, by and against healthcare providers and organizations. It costs, but not much. PACER Service Center Call: (800) 676-6856E-mail: pacer@psc.uscourts.gov
County Court offices or web sites: great places to learn about litigation between hospitals and other healthcare providers.
Your Tax Dollars At Work
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS funds Medicare and oversees Medicaid, which gathers data on hospitals and nursing homes and also inspects them. Brian Cook (202) 690-7356.
HHS' Inspector General Office: The HHS' Inspector General Office not only prosecutes healthcare crime and assists in investigating healthcare providers, but it can exclude them from Medicare and Medicaid, the ‘kiss of death' for bad behavior. It also lists and issues civil monetary penalties for nursing homes and hospitals for ‘patient dumping' violations. Contact Don White at (202) 619-0088.
Government Accountability Office: Federal agency that produces reports on a variety of state and federal programs at the request of Congress, including healthcare organizations and issues.. Contact Chuck Young, Managing Director of Public Affairs, at 202-512-4800.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). A great federal resource that collects quality reports by state and organization. AHRQ Public Affairs: Karen Migdail at (301) 427-1855 or karen@migdail.ahrq.hhs.gov. Great listing of quality reports at http://www.talkingquality.gov/compendium/index.html
Securities and Exchange Commission: SEC allows investors and reporters to check out publicly traded companies, such as for profit hospital and nursing home chains. www.sec.gov. Great tutorials on reading a 10K statement and learning to use EDGAR, the SEC's electronic data base of company filings.
Bonus Resources: "Covering Health Issues: A Sourcebook for Journalists" – Contact Alliance for Health Reform Online at this website: http://www.allhealth.org/ to receive a free copy or email Bill Erwin of the Alliance at: BillErwin@allhealth.org. Both Executive Vice President Ed Howard or Communications Director Erwin are incredibly helpful in assisting journalists. Call (202) 789-2233.
The Association of Health Care Journalists is a member organization that offers multiple resources, tips and sources to reporters covering healthcare. You get a lot from membership, including access to its invaluable listserv, which allows reporters to query other members about stories and sources. But many offerings are on the website for anyone to use.