Bringing together diverse voices for more affordable and equitable healthcare
WE SEEK TO BUILD PUBLIC CONSENSUS AROUND KEY IDEAS FOR LOWER COSTS AND LASTING CHANGE
The New Hampshire Health Cost Initiative (NHHCI) is mobilizing Granite Staters to address the state's rising healthcare costs and improve access to care. With support from the Endowment for Health, we are connecting leaders and ideas and developing resources to provide Granite Staters with knowledge and tools to advocate for practical solutions that lower health costs.
By lifting up the voices of those directly affected by rising healthcare costs and sharing accurate information and new perspectives, we aim to drive meaningful change that benefits patients and families, strengthens our communities, supports our businesses, and improves health outcomes for everyone in New Hampshire. Through trust, transparency, and accountable collaboration, we are engaging stakeholders from across the healthcare system to ensure that all Granite Staters have access to affordable, equitable, and high-quality healthcare.
BOARD OF CONTRIBUTORS
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Professor of Law and Director, Health Law and Science programs - UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law
Lucy Hodder, JD is a professor of law at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law and a respected figure in health law, insurance markets, and delivery system dynamics in New England. She founded the Health Law and Policy programs at the University of New Hampshire and currently directs Health and Life Sciences Law at the law school. She has practiced in health law for over 30 years, both as a shareholder at Rath, Young & Pignatelli, PC, in employment and corporate health law, and in the public sector as an Assistant Attorney General (1993-1998) and legal counsel and Senior Health Policy Advisor to Governor Maggie Hassan (2013-2015). Lucy’s ongoing research with the UNH Institute for Health Policy and Practice focuses on strategic support for healthcare systems reform, coverage and payment strategies, Medicaid policy and medical records privacy.
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Michael Cohen, MA, CAGS
Michael Cohen is principal consultant at MJC Health Solutions, LLC. Previous work included serving as an Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NH. His work has led to an understanding of how to meaningfully engage consumers in health policy making and advocacy. Working collaboratively and including all voices-stakeholders-has been an effective strategy for finding solutions to problems and building mutual understanding and trust in the healthcare delivery system. He served as a staff consultant to the Health and Aging Services Group and the Psychiatric Research Center, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, developing and implementing health services research designed to improve health outcomes.
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Director of Health Law and Policy – Institute for Health Policy and Practice, University of New Hampshire
Deborah H. Fournier, JD has twenty years of health policy experience, including posts at national organizations such as the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP). Ms. Fournier has also served in two state Medicaid programs, culminating in her serving as NH’s Medicaid Director. Ms. Fournier’s career has encompassed health policy related to public health crises, healthcare financing, payment reform, health insurance coverage programs, social drivers of health, and innovative Medicaid policies. She is currently focused on healthcare affordability and emerging pathways for sustainably financing healthcare services and public health services.
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Chief Strategy Officer - New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity
Josephine (Jo) Porter, MPH, is the Chief Strategy Officer at the New Hampshire Center for Justice and Equity. She has over 20 years of experience in public health, program development, grant management, and leadership. She spent 15 years with the Institute for Health Policy and Practice at the University of New Hampshire, serving as the Director for over seven years. Jo has held appointments at the state and federal levels on a variety of committees. Jo’s areas of interest include health data collection, dissemination, and using data to effectively inform effective decision and policy making. Her private sector experience includes program management with Health Dialog, Inc., a care management firm.
PROJECT COORDINATION
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Project Coordinator, NH Health Cost Initiative
Jennifer Frizzell, JD is an attorney with a diverse background in public policy, advocacy communications, issue campaigns and social impact. She has more than 25 years’ experience providing policy and strategy counsel to non-profit and advocacy organizations, focused on access to health care, women’s reproductive health and maternity care. As a leader with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and the NH Women’s Foundation, Jennifer has led meaningful policy and advocacy campaigns to expand access, including implementation of the Affordable Care Act, expand Medicaid and expansion of insurance coverage for contraception and fertility care. She developed and launched the Get Ready to Get Covered outreach and enrollment campaign, and managed a statewide network of patient navigators providing consumer assistance. Jennifer's work values community engagement across stakeholders as a priority strategy for building relationships, building capacity and building lasting policy change.
Jennifer brings her background as both a health policy leader and an organizer to her role as Project Coordinator at NHHCI.