About Community Catalyst

Community Catalyst’s first priority is quality affordable health care for all. Since 1997, we have provided leadership and support to state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations working to change the health care system so it serves everyone – especially vulnerable members of society.

Community Catalyst is a national non-profit advocacy organization working to build the consumer and community leadership that is required to transform the American health system.  We believe that this transformation will happen when consumers are fully engaged and have an organized voice. 

Our staff of experienced policy analysts, attorneys, community organizers, and communications specialists has worked with organizations in over 40 states. We have helped these organizations achieve wide-reaching reforms in many areas including Medicaid policy, prescription drug prices, and diversity in the health care workforce.  Community Catalyst’s contributions range from policy analysis and technical assistance to managing national campaigns involving dozens of organizations.

From Oregon to Orlando, Community Catalyst strengthens organized consumer voices wherever important decisions about the health system are made: in communities when hospitals go up for sale; in courtrooms where consumers challenge the illegal practices of drug companies; and in statehouses when advocates strive to win improvements in health care programs.

Community Catalyst is an innovator continually looking for creative approaches to assist consumers. We are not afraid to challenge our opponents or ourselves. Our work may lead us to help create a consumer governed health plan, to build a new benefits eligibility software program, or to form a coalition of unusual partners.  We are always looking for new opportunities to build consumer power and voice.

Community Catalyst has created a downloadable brochure to learn more about our programs.

Affiliations:

• Health Care for All, the Massachusetts consumer health advocacy organization, and Community Catalyst have a formal partnership agreement to collaborate in development and dissemination of innovative program models.  The partnership encompasses Health Care For All’s public interest law firm, Health Law Advocates. 
• MergerWatch is a special project of Community Catalyst that works to protect patients from religiously based restrictions on health care access and to bring women’s concerns in the health reform efforts. 
• Community Learning Partners is a special project that focuses on addressing the severe shortage of experienced community organizers, which hinders the development of grassroots community groups, mainly in the nation’s poorest neighborhoods and communities of color.  The project helps to bring together organizers, trainers, local groups and academic institutions to develop new programs around practitioner education, which prepare people for careers in organizing and community change.