University of New England

Seminar for policy makers examines health insurance reform efforts in Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont

A day-long policy seminar featuring three northern New England states’ approaches to improving healthcare access is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1, 2006 at the University of New England’s Westbrook College Campus in Portland, Maine.

Specifically, the seminar for state legislators, health policy officials and representatives from private sector health organizations and consumer healthcare reform organizations will focus on health insurance reform efforts in Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont.

The Program
The seminar will feature presentations by top-level government officials from each of the three states in the morning session and an expert panel discussion with audience participation in the afternoon session.

State officials will address their respective health access legislation and associated cost containment efforts. Tom Barker, counselor for health policy to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will be the keynote speaker. Barker serves as the secretary’s legal and policy advisor.

“This policy seminar will provide an opportunity to disseminate and discuss information on different models of healthcare improvement currently underway in New England,” noted seminar coordinator Ron Deprez, Ph.D., M.P.H., director of UNE’s Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research (CHPPR), part of the University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. “In addition, the seminar will emphasize the challenges posed to states attempting to expand access to health care through state sponsored insurance programs."

Sponsors
The seminar will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Ludcke Auditorium, 716 Stevens Avenue, Portland, Maine. It is sponsored by the UNE’s Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research, The New England Council, New England Healthcare Institute, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and the Maine Health Access Foundation.

Morning session presenters include Ellen Thompson, M.S., public health planning chief, Vermont Department of Health; Herb Olson, J.D., Vermont Division of Healthcare Administration; Rosemarie Day, deputy director and chief operating officer, Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority (Massachusetts); Massachusetts State Representative Marty Walz; Trish Riley, director, (Maine) Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance; and Maine State Representative Lisa Miller. Ron Deprez will facilitate the morning session.

Panel members include James Hester, Jr., Ph.D., vice president, Vermont MVP Health Care; Frank McGinty, executive vice president, MaineHealth; and a panel member representing Massachusetts. Panel moderator will be Wendy Wolf, M.D., Ph.D., executive director, Maine Health Access Foundation.

A wrap-up session will be conducted by Tracy Gay, director of health policy, New England Healthcare Institute.

Registration
To register or for more information, including reference material, biographical information on the featured speakers and directions, visit www.chppr.org.

CHPPR is a multi-functional educational, consulting and research program within UNE’s medical school. In addition to providing research services to the University, CHPPR provides planning and research services to government, healthcare providers, associations and foundations throughout New England, the U.S. and the world.

(Press release issued Oct. 23, 2006)