HEALTHCARE: Confronting Disparities

What's behind the $3.4 trillion America spends each year on healthcare?

Renowned journalist T.R. Reid, a popular speaker at NH Business Review's 20П Health Care Forum, will expand upon the factors behind this enormous figure at NH Business Review's Healthcare: Confronting Disparities event.

Through his written works and documentaries airing on PBS, Reid has brought to light glaring disparities in healthcare, such as the fact that more than 50 percent of America's healthcare spending goes to just five percent of patients suffering from chronic illnesses, accidents and violent crime.

Following, Reid's insight into the national healthcare industry, Dr. Joanne Conroy, CEO and president of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and recently named one of the "Most Influential People in Healthcare 2018" by Modern Healthcare magazine, will share her onthe-ground perspective of how hospital systems have been innovating the delivery of care since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2009. Dr. Conroy will also discuss the evolving marketplace for employers and what they might be able to expect as changes continue to take shape.

Beth Roberts, senior vice president of commercial business at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, will elaborate on the discussion by providing the regional perspective on the health insurance market as well as insights into the overall healthcare landscape in New England and what that means for New Hampshire businesses and employees.

NH Business Review would like to thank presenting sponsor Harvard Pilgrim Health Care for supporting this discussion. A heartful thanks is also in order to gold sponsor Dartmouth-Hitchcock, silver sponsors Geneia and Tufts Health Freedom Plan, bronze sponsor Northeast Delta Dental as well as Granite State College, the Business and Industry Association and University of New Hampshire School of Law.

Presentation schedule:

7:30 a.m. Breakfast & Networking

8:00 a.m. Opening Remarks

Welcome from Sharron McCarthy, President & Publisher, McLean Communications

Address from Presenting Sponsor Harvard Pilgrim

8:15 a.m. Keynote Speaker

TSR. Reid, journalist, author and healthcare expert

9:15 a.m. Networking Intermission

9:30 a.m. Speaker

Joanne Conroy, CEO & President, Dartmouth -Hitchcock Medical Center

10:00 a.m. Speaker

Beth Roberts, SW', Commercial Business, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

10:30 a.m. Closing remarks

Jeff Feingold, Editor, NH Business Review

Tufts Health Freedom Plan & Northeast Delta Dental join forces

Our goal is to improve the overall health of our members

At Tufts Health Freedom Plan and Northeast Delta Dental, we keep the well-being of people at the forefront of everything we do. Our organizations know that good oral health contributes to better overall health, making our joint partnership to provide better health and better savings to New Hampshire members a natural fit.

About Tufts Health Freedom Plan

Businesses matter to Tufts Health Freedom Plan (THFP), no matter the size. But it's the people at those businesses who matter most, and that's why THFP's partnership with Northeast Delta Dental is so important. By collaborating to provide coverage from both companies, THFP is having a tangible effect on the health of businesses and the people who make them strong.

As a business founded in New Hampshire and for New Hampshire, THFP understands the challenges that local employers face, and what they need from their health plan. Tufts Health Freedom Plan is unique in its groundbreaking collaboration between a health insurance company and some of New Hampshire's leading health systems-the only collaboration of its kind in New Hampshire.

The partnership of six of the largest independent health systems in New Hampshire. Catholic Medical Center, Concord Hospital, Exeter Hospital, LRGHealthcare, Southern New Hampshire Health, and Wentworth-Douglass Hospital have all come together with Tufts Health Plan to transform healthcare delivery in the communities they serve, providing high-quality, accessible care for patients and the highest level of health for their populations.

To learn more about Tufts Health Freedom Plan, call 603-228-7450 or visit thfp.com/findouthow.

About Northeast Delta Dental

Northeast Delta Dental (NDD), the largest dental benefits administrator in New England, recognizes the importance good oral health has in relation to overall health. That's why this partnership with Tufts Health Freedom Plan works so well. NDD will continue to cover diagnostic and preventive dental services as well as encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors. But now, by incorporating their patient-centered oral health program, Health through Oral Wellness® (HOW8), NDD will have a positive influence on members' overall health.

The HOW® program helps bring additional preventive dental care to those who are at risk for oral disease, which, if not managed, could exacerbate chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. NDD provides dental benefits for more than 875,000 people in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Included among its customers are companies of all sizes and individuals and families with no access to employer-sponsored group dental insurance.

Learn more about Northeast Delta Dental at nedelta.com, or call 1-800-537-1715 or your independent insurance agent. To learn more about Northeast Delta Dental's HOW® program, visit HealthThroughOraiWeHness.com.

Speakers:

Joanne M. Conroy, MD

CEO & President, DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center

Joanne Mather Conroy, MD, was selected as the chief executive officer and president of Dartmouth-Hitchcock and DartmouthHitchcock Health by the Board of Trustees on June 14, 2017.

Dr. Conroy comes to Dartmouth-Hitchcock from a position as CEO of Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, MA. In this role, she drove the clinical integration strategy for the hospital, expanded its educational and research programs and strengthened the organization's operational infrastructure and facilities to support the overall objectives of Lahey Health.

She received her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire and was the recipient of a Robert Sloan scholarship from Singer Corporation. Dr. Conroy received her medical degree from MUSC, where she completed her residency in anesthesiology, serving as chief resident for one year.

Dr. Conroy is board certified with the American Board of Anesthesiologists, attained a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Pain Management, and is a diplomate with the American Academy of Pain Management.

Beth Roberts

SVP of Commercial Business, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

Beth is responsible for Harvard Pilgrim's commercial performance and growth within four regional markets: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, providing strategic direction and ensuring direct accountability from each regional VP, She oversees the areas of sales, sales operations, network development and product optimization. To achieve outcomes most beneficial for Harvard Pilgrim's customers, Beth leads ongoing efforts to strengthen the company's existing business partnerships while seeking additional opportunities for strategic collaboration.

She is also a board member of Benevera Health, Harvard Pilgrim's joint venture with New Hampshire partner hospitals dedicated to improving the state's population health.

As a Harvard Pilgrim ambassador, Beth speaks frequently at various forums on the topic of healthcare and serves as chairperson for The RiverWoods Group, a nationally-accredited, charitable retirement community.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: T.R. Reid

Renowned journalist, author and healthcare expert

T. R. Reid has become one of the nation's best-known journalists through his reporting for the Washington Post, authored works and light-hearted commentaries on NPR's Morning Edition.

Reid was launched into a national role in 2009, through his best-selling book "The Healing of America," where Reid took an in-depth examination of the U.S. healthcare system, a topic he frequently discusses on NPR's Morning Edition.

His latest film, "U.S. Health Care: The Good News" premiered on the national PBS network in 2012, and is still being broadcast by local PBS affiliates. His other two PBS Frontline documentaries, "Sick Around the World" and "India-A Second Opinion" examine healthcare systems around the world.

In addition to healthcare, Reid has covered Congress and four presidential campaigns for The Washington Post. He has reported from four dozen countries and served as the paper's bureau chief in Tokyo and London. Reid has also authored nine books, three written in Japanese.

Reid continues to focus on the topic of healthcare, currently serving as a member of the board of the Health Research and Education Trust, among other community and educational institutions.