PRINCETON, N.J. (October 8, 2009)—The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today announced its selection of Hugh "Trey" Daly III, a senior attorney who focuses on health care issues at the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, to receive a Community Health Leaders Award. He is one of 10 extraordinary Americans who will receive the RWJF honor for 2009 at a ceremony this evening at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Daly has worked to ensure that thousands of low income and sick people living in southwest Ohio have access to health care services—especially under the Medicaid program, which serves those with low incomes and individuals with disabilities. He brokered an agreement to use local government funds to provide as many as 60,000 low-income individuals with discounted hospital care. His efforts have also prompted local hospitals to end abusive and aggressive medical debt collection practices against patients who cannot afford to pay enormous medical bills.
"Mr. Daly has used the legal system to work to ensure that low-income people in the Greater Cincinnati area have access to the health care and services that they need. His efforts have also had a major positive impact on how the county's health care dollars are spent," said Janice Ford Griffin, national program director for the award.
Daly notes that sometimes his work to improve access to health care services involves very little traditional lawyering. For instance, he has established a public library-based program that allows Medicaid-eligible families to submit required information by fax to maintain their participation in the health care program. Prior to Daly's creation of the Library Project, a Medicaid applicant had to present documents in person to prove their eligibility, often requiring them to take time off work, pay eight dollars or more to park and stand in line at the local Medicaid office.
"Our overarching mission at Legal Aid is to help people get out of poverty, and having inadequate health care helps to keep people mired in poverty," said Daly.
Andrea K. Zigman, former managing attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati's health care practice group, noted that, as a lawyer, Daly could have chosen any type of practice. "Trey's pay is low, his hours are long, and he certainly does not enjoy the glamour, status or perks of private lawyers. Instead, the rewards of his career come from persuading people that health care can and should be available to everyone. He motivates action and achieves concrete results that open doors for the poor and uninsured."
The award honors exceptional men and women from all over the country who overcome significant obstacles to tackle some of the most challenging health and health care problems facing their communities and the nation. The Community Health Leaders Award elevates the work of the leaders by raising awareness of their extraordinary contributions through national visibility, a $125,000 award and networking opportunities. This year, RWJF received more than 532 nominations from across the United States and selected 10 outstanding individuals, all of whom have worked to improve health conditions in their communities with exceptional creativity, courage and commitment.
There are nine other 2009 Community Health Leaders in addition to Daly. Their work includes oral health services for remote communities; self-directed care for persons with physical disabilities; a mentoring program to help disadvantaged youngsters pursue health careers; care for victims of torture; an innovative approach to combat obesity; culturally sensitive and appropriate health care for Cambodian-American immigrants; quality health care for Native American elders; low-cost family planning and health care for women, men and teens; and mental health services for the underserved.
Since 1993 the program has honored more than 160 Community Health Leaders in nearly every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Nominations can be submitted for the 2010 Community Health Leaders Award through October 15, 2009. For details on how to submit a nomination, including eligibility requirements and selection criteria, visit www.communityhealthleaders.org.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) established the Community Health Leaders (CHL) Award to recognize individuals who overcome daunting obstacles to improve health and health care in their communities. Today, there are 173 outstanding Community Health Leaders in nearly all states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.communityhealthleaders.org.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years, the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.