Washington Policy Center's 9th Annual Health Care Conference

Description

State Implementation of Federal Health Care Reform

The half-day conference will include a legislative session update with legislative leaders from the Senate Health Care Committee and the Governor's office, and expert panelists will review implementation plans for national health care reform in Washington as well as in other states.

Conference agenda:

7:30am Registration opens and continental breakfast served.

8:00am - 8:45am 2011 Legislative Session update. A representative from the Governor’s office, as well as Democrat and Republican legislators, will discuss current health care legislation and take questions from attendees.

• Sen. Randi Becker, Ranking Minority Member, Senate Health Care Committee
• Sen. Karen Keiser, Chair, Senate Health Care Committee
• Jonathan Seib, Health Care Policy Advisor to Gov. Gregoire

8:45am - 9:00am Break

9:00am - 10:15am Panel 1: Implementation of federal health care reform in other states.

• John R. Graham, Health Policy Analyst, Pacific Research Institute, California
• Christie Herrera, Director, Health and Human Services Task Force, American Legislative Exchange Council

10:15am - 10:30am Break

10:30am - 11:45am Panel 2: Implementation of federal health care reform in Washington state.

• Doug Porter, Director, Washington State Health Care Authority
• Dean Martz, MD, President of the Washington State Medical Association
• Jim Grazko, Vice President, Premera Blue Cross

12:00pm - 1:30pm Keynote lunch with U.S. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers will discuss the implementation of federal health care reform.

Elected in 2004, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers has been active in introducing proposals to reform health care. WPC recently partnered with McMorris Rodgers to write an op-ed for The Seattle Times on our block grant waiver recommendation, which would give states more flexibility in their health care programs. The Congresswoman also recently met with Governor Gregoire to discuss how last year's national health care reform legislation will increase states' Medicaid costs.