Gingrich, CHT  host Luncheon, press conference...Launches Missouri Project...The Center for Health Transformation joins local leaders at to discuss goals for health transformation in Missouri

ST. LOUIS, MO (JUNE 19, 2007):  Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, founder of the Center for Health Transformation (CHT), came to St. Louis June 19 to join influential leaders from throughout Missouri at a luncheon to discuss next steps for CHT’s recently announced Missouri Project.

Discussion revolved  around how the state fits into the Center’s vision of a 21^st Century Intelligent Health System that saves lives and saves money, as well as specific goals and areas of focus for the Missouri Project.

A press conference with Speaker Gingrich and Missouri Project Director Julie Eckstein immediately followed the luncheon. Ms. Eckstein, former Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, joined the Center for Health Transformation in March of this year; in addition to leading the Missouri Project, she also serves as Director of State Operations for CHT.

Creating a 21st Century Intelligent Health System of more choices of higher quality at lower cost in Missouri is one of the major undertakings of the Center for Health Transformation, and this luncheon is intended to accelerate that effort.                                                                                                                                               

Missouri faces a variety of health challenges, including bearing the burden of a greater-than-average population of people aged 65 and older (80% of whom have at least one chronic disease). Sixty percent of Missouri adults are obese or overweight, almost double the rate recorded in 1990. Moreover, nearly 30% of adults in Missouri use tobacco – Missouri ranks third in the nation for adult smokers – leading to the deaths of more than 10,300 Missourians annually.

“We looked forward to this meeting with community and industry leaders,” said Ms. Eckstein, noting that the luncheon would help guide the work of health transformation in Missouri. “Once the big issues have been prioritized, we will hit the ground running to develop interventions or initiatives that can help us achieve defined goals.”

Attendees at the event  also were invited to participate in a robust question-and-answer session following remarks by Speaker Gingrich, which outlined CHT’s vision for health transformation and defined goals related to such topics as prevention and wellness, health information technology, covering the uninsured, chronic disease management, the consumer's right to know, improved access to care, and more.

The Center first announced plans to launch the Missouri Project in April of this year, committing the organization to the mission of creating a healthy Missouri in which knowledge saves lives and saves money for all Missourians. The Project is an opportunity to replicate the successes of CHT's groundbreaking Georgia Project, launched in 2003, which includes initiatives related to diabetes and obesity, e-prescribing, eliminating minority health disparities, creating affordable coverage for all and increasing access to cost and quality information. In both states, the Center sees a unique opportunity to generate and implement projects to test solutions that promote value-based healthcare, increase access, and reduce costs.              
The Center for Health Transformation, founded by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, is a high-impact collaboration of private and public sector leaders committed to creating a 21^st Century Intelligent Health System that saves lives and saves money for all Americans. The membership of the Center for Health Transformation is comprised of employers, hospitals, insurers, solution-providers, pharmaceuticals, government leaders, physician groups, professional and industry associations, research institutions and think tanks, disease advocacy groups, and many others who are dedicated to accelerating the adoption of transformational solutions and policies for better health and more choices at lower cost. For more information, visit www.healthtransformation.net.