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The National Institute

of

Health Policy

 is

 a program of
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the NIHP

The National Institute of Health Policy (NIHP) is a not-for-profit, membership organization comprised of healthcare leaders throughout the Upper Midwest.  Through leadership and vision, the NIHP provides a neutral forum for multi-stakeholder collaboration on complex healthcare policy issues.  By bringing healthcare leaders, front-line staff and influential policy makers to the table, the NIHP members and staff explore these issues and find common-ground solutions to foster health system transformation. 

In addition, the NIHP also acts as a resource for health policy information as well as a facilitator for information exchange in the UMW and other regions as well as with national policymakers.  Member representation includes hospitals, clinics, doctors, health insurance plans, professional associations, employers and consumers. 

The NIHP facilitates various activities to accomplish its objectives:   

  • convenes diverse groups to discuss critical and emerging health policy issues,

  • collects and synthesizes policy analyses and research findings,

  • creates non-partisan forums for dialogue and development of policy alternatives,

  • develops innovative public education models to better inform the community about effective public policy in healthcare.

History

The NIHP was established in 1998 through a unique partnership of the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota.  Founded by former Senator David Durenberger, the NIHP currently has over 35 members from various organizations throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa. 

 

2006 Annual Summary

 

2005 Annual Summary

 

2004 Annual Summary

 

About Dave Durenberger

A native of Collegeville, Senator David Durenberger was the son of 42 year St. John’s University Athletic Director George Durenberger. His mother is 95 years old and in a nursing home in Minneapolis. He graduated from St. John’s Prep School in 1951 and St. John’s University in 1955. While attending St. John’s, Senator Durenberger was involved in Army ROTC, becoming the program’s first cadet battalion commander and the top honor cadet. Senator Durenberger went on the serve in the United States Army as a Military Intelligence Officer from 1956-1963. During this time, Senator Durenberger also graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Senator Durenberger served as the senior U.S. Senator from Minnesota from 1978 to 1995. During his time in the Senate, Senator Durenberger served as chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence; chairman of the Health Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee and was catapulted into the leadership role in national health reform. 

In addition, Senator Durenberger chaired the Intergovernmental Relations Subcommittee, led President Reagan's New Federalism effort in 1982, and was a 14-year member of the Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations. He was also a member of the Senate Environment Committee; Government Affairs Committee; and the committee now known as the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and served as Vice Chair of the Pepper Commission in 1989-1990.

Senator Durenberger is currently a Senior Health Policy Fellow at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis Minnesota and chairs the National Institute of Health Policy (NIHP).

Today, he influences the future of the nation’s two major public health programs as a member of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the Kaiser Foundation Commission on the Future of Medicaid and the Uninsured, the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the National Commission for Quality Long-term Care.  He is also Advisory Board Chair of the Medical Technology Leadership Forum. 

Senator Durenberger was also named by Governor Tim Pawlenty to lead the Minnesota Citizens Forum on Health Care Costs, an inside-out approach to healthcare reform in Minnesota.  He is author of Prescription for Change and Neither Madman Nor Messiahs and teaches and speaks nationally on the future of healthcare delivery and policy.