Submitted by: Claire Johnson, DC, MSEd

Position: APHA-CHC Communication Chair

Submitted by: Lori Byrd, MS

Position: APHA-CHC Chair Elect

We feel strongly that the answer is “Yes!”  CHC Section members Lori Byrd and Claire Johnson represented the Section at the 2011 APHA Midyear Meeting held in Chicago.  As requested by APHA, a summary report of this meeting was drafted as it relates to the CHC Section. This report includes key points, action steps, helpful links, resources, and documents that are aimed to inform readers about how the chiropractic profession may be more involved in health care reform.

Purpose of APHA Midyear Meeting: Implementing Health Reform: A Public Health Approach. APHA 2011 Midyear Meeting, Chicago - June 23-25, 2011

The midyear APHA meeting in June 2011 focused on health care reform. “The 2011 Midyear Meeting brought together over 600 public health practitioners interested in learning what the Affordable Care Act means for public health, wellness and prevention. Attendees participated in sessions ranging from fiscal implications and technology to legal challenges and engaging policy-makers.”

CHC Participation:

APHA leadership asked for one representative from each of APHA’s 27 sections to attend this meeting and complete the following duties:

1. Attend the full meeting and a luncheon for State Affiliate and Section leaders.
2. Participate in quarterly conference calls to discuss the topics emerging from the Midyear Meeting.
3. Be the point of contact on health reform for his or her Section/SPIG.
4. Write a report at the end of the retreat to share with Section leaders and disseminate to Section members.
5. Participate in face-to-face discussions at the Annual Meeting on health care reform.
 
Attending on Behalf of the CHC:

For the APHA Chiropractic Health Care section, Claire Johnson (APHA-CHC Communication Chair) was selected to represent the CHC Section. Also attending the APHA Midyear meeting was Lori Byrd (CHC Chair Elect).

Summary report:

The purpose of this summary report is to disseminate the information from this midyear meeting to the constituents of the APHA Chiropractic Health Care Section, as specifically instructed by APHA: “Suggestions as to how your section can move forward in getting your members more educated and involved in health reform efforts.”

Please download and read the full report. Please feel free to read and share this document with others who may be interested.  http://www.apha.org/NR/rdonlyres/6E0911DE-8939-4781-B5E8-28362FC884E6/0/APHA2011MidyearMeetingReportFinal1x.doc 

Claire Johnson, DC, MSEd and Lori Byrd, MS at the APHA Midyear meeting