CRHOP is a Program at the Michigan Public Health Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

What is Health Policy?

 Policy has been defined as: 

• "what governments do, why they do it, and what difference it makes." - Thomas R. Dye

• "a projected program of goals, values, and practices." - Harold Lasswell

• "the impacts of government activity." - David Easton

• "a selected line of action or a declaration of intent." - Austin Ranney

• "a purposive course action followed by an actor or set of actors in dealing with a problem or matter of concern." - James Anderson

Health policy involves the plans and actions of government and other organizations designed to maintain and improve public health, health care provision, and health care access.  

CRHOP is routinely involved in projects that directly impact health policy in Michigan and nationally. Examples include: 

• CRHOP is in the process of drafting policy recommendations for the Governor, Legislature, and other policy makers to improve access, coordination, and delivery of services for persons with traumatic brain injury
• CRHOP frequently conducts evaluations of programs that are designed to improve the health of Michigan citizens. The results of the evaluations are used to improve the program.
• CRHOP actively maintains several different databases and data sets used by policy makers to better understand the situation. Before changing policy or funding, it is important to understand such aspects as the demographics of the population and cost of the decision.