Rep. Kelly completes work on two-year CSG Healthy States National Task Force
COLUMBUS—State Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) announced the completion of her work on the Healthy States National Task Force with the Council of State Governments (CSG). CSG released the findings of its member-driven Healthy States National Task Force, which address shared public policy issues in state government. Rep. Kelly served as a valuable member of this elite working group of 50 state officials, who were tasked with finding bipartisan policy solutions, developing case studies and providing an outline of recommendations for state elected and appointed officials to use as they work to improve health outcomes across their communities.
“It was an honor to participate in leading the Healthy States National Task Force with fellow legislators from around the country,” said Rep. Kelly. “It is my hope that the findings of this task force will provide much needed information to improve health outcomes in communities across our nation.”
America spends more money on health care than any other industrialized nation. But when it comes to outcomes, the U.S. isn’t at the top of the heap. The task force knew there was work to be done, and it set out to help states reduce costs and improve outcomes to help communities across the country exist in a more healthy state.
When the CSG Healthy States National Task Force began its work, it could not have predicted the arrival of the COVID-19 virus. However, the task force did anticipate that states should begin to prepare themselves in the areas of health innovation, technology, affordability, capacity, preparedness and access to ensure that state health systems were prepared to meet any challenge. With the arrival of 2020, these topics were already being explored by Rep. Kelly and her fellow task force members. Due to the urgency of the pandemic, these were no longer policy areas that required future planning — they were vital, critical and immediate.
“It would be an understatement to say that the COVID-19 health crisis has created new challenges; but in these unprecedented times, state leaders have been resilient, flexible and have renewed their commitment to work together,” said David Adkins, executive director/CEO of The Council of State Governments. “In the wake of the global pandemic, as states continue to work to identify and implement policies that will improve health outcomes across their communities, the work of these task forces also continued.”
The recommendations of the national task force are detailed in its full report and reflect two years of the thoughtful work of its members, who studied best state practices in areas of health while also navigating a global pandemic.
“For more than 85 years, The Council of State Governments has convened public servants who strive to solve complex problems in order to make their communities, states and the world a better place for everyone,” Adkins said. “The state officials serving on this CSG national task force continued this tradition by digging deep into health issues and innovations to determine best practices in these areas and to share state successes with their peers.”
To access the full CSG Healthy States National Task Force Report and to view the Report Summary and Suggested Strategies and Opportunities Checklist, visit web.csg.org/healthystates.
About The Council of State Governments
Founded in 1933, The Council of State Governments is the nation’s only organization serving all three branches of state government. CSG is a region-based forum that fosters the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy. This offers unparalleled regional, national and international opportunities to network, develop leaders, collaborate and create problem-solving partnerships. Learn more at csg.org.