The Center for Health Care Strategies is a left-of-center organization which advocates for left-wing cultural ideologies in the healthcare field. The organization was founded in 1995 through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. ¹ It has expressed the view racism in America is a public health crisis and should be treated as if it is a “disease.” ² It also has argued the U.S. government should use Medicaid funding to pay for transgender surgeries. ³

The president and CEO of the Center for Health Care Strategies is Allison Hamblin, and its chair of the Board of Trustees is Estelle Richman. ⁴ The organization receives funding from several major left-of-center foundations, and it also received a grant from MacKenzie Scott. ^{1 5}

Advocacy

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Center for Health Care Strategies states that it works to build “a diverse workforce that brings distinct perspectives, cultures, races, ethnicities, gender and sexual identities, experiences, and abilities to the table.” ⁶ The organization has claimed that racism is rampant in the healthcare system, having stated: “For racially and ethnically diverse communities, we are keenly aware of pervasive inequities in health access, quality, and outcomes resulting from a long history of interpersonal and structural racism both within and beyond the health care sector.” ⁶

Racism as a Public Health Crisis

The Center for Health Care Strategies published an article claiming “racism has been declared a public health crisis,” and the organization argued that health care providers should “confront the disease of racism in pediatric care, which has for too long harmed children and families of color.” ² In another paper, the Center said, “If pediatric health care were consistently anti-racist, strengths-based, and delivered in partnership with families and communities, more children would have access to the relationships, resources, and care they need to thrive.” ⁷

Transgender Issues

The Center for Health Care Strategies supports government-funded surgeries for transgender individuals. In a paper discussing Medicaid funding, the organization said, “States can ensure appropriate services are made available to transgender and gender non-conforming people by explicitly covering gender-affirming care in Medicaid, which is already done in 20 Medicaid programs.” ³

In addition, the organization used the term “birthing people” in a paper on maternal mortality. ⁸

People

The president and CEO of the Center for Health Care Strategies is Allison Hamblin, and the chair of the organization’s board of trustees is Estelle Richman, a former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. ⁴ The organization has 77 employees listed on its website. ⁹

Funding

The Center for Health Care Strategies is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Hamilton, New Jersey. In the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the organization had $6,425,175 in revenue and $5,104,029 in expenses. ¹⁰ In 2022, the organization received a grant from MacKenzie Scott as part of Scott’s distribution of nearly $4 billion to 465 nonprofits. ⁵

It is known that Center for Health Care Strategies receives funding from many different left-of-center foundations such as Arnold Ventures, Casey Family Programs, the Commonwealth Fund, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. ¹ The organization also receives funding from AARP and the CDC. ¹

1. Center for Health Care Strategies. “History & Funders.” https://www.chcs.org/about-us/history-funders/. Accessed December 19, 2022.
2. Center for Health Care Strategies. “Confronting Racism in Pediatric Care.” https://www.chcs.org/confronting-racism-in-pediatric-care/. Accessed December 19, 2022.
3. Smithey, Anne, Shilpa Patel, and Tricia McGinnis. “Developing a Payment and Spending Strategy to Advance Health Equity: Checklist for Medicaid Decision-Makers.” Center for Health Care Strategies. 3. https://www.chcs.org/media/AHE-Payment-and-Spending-Brief-FINAL.pdf.
4. Center for Health Care Strategies. “Board of Trustees.” https://www.chcs.org/board-of-trustees/. Accessed December 19, 2022.
5. Scott, MacKenzie. “Helping Any of Us Can Help Us All.” Medium, March 23, 2022. https://mackenzie-scott.medium.com/helping-any-of-us-can-help-us-all-f4c7487818d9.
6. Center for Health Care Strategies. “Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.” https://www.chcs.org/about-us/diversity-equity-inclusion/. Accessed December 19, 2022.
7. ^[1] Center for Health Care Strategies. “Accelerating Child Health Care Transformation: Key Opportunities for Improving Pediatric Care.” https://www.chcs.org/resource/accelerating-child-health-care-transformation-key-opportunities-for-improving-pediatric-care/. Accessed December 19, 2022.
8. ^[1] Khanal, Prita, et al. “Covering Doula Services Under Medicaid: Design and Implementation Considerations for Promoting Access and Health Equity.” Center for Health Care Strategies, December 2022. https://www.chcs.org/resource/covering-doula-services-under-medicaid-design-and-implementation-considerations-for-promoting-access-and-health-equity/.
9. Center for Health Care Strategies. “Staff.” https://www.chcs.org/staff/. Accessed December 19, 2022.
10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Health Care Strategies. 2019. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223375015/202111329349302126/full. Accessed December 19, 2022.