The Paths to Health Care Reform, One Day Conference at TOWN HALL LA

<p>LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/13/09 -- "Real Facts, Hard Choices: Identifying Paths to Health Care Reform" is a one day conference hosted by TOWN HALL LA, Friday, May 22, 2009, at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel. </p> <p>Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have doubled in the last nine years, a rate six times faster than cumulative wage increases. In 2007, the United States spent almost twice the average of other developed nations on health care averaging $7,421 per person. </p> <p>The day begins with Panel 1: How Do We Define Reform? Panelists: Ruth Liu, Senior Director of Health Policy, Kaiser Permanente; Thomas M. Priselac, Chair, American Hospital Association, and President and CEO, Cedars-Sinai Health System; Steven Scott, Vice President and General Manager, Anthem Blue Cross and moderator, James Lott, Executive Vice President, Hospital Association of Southern California. The luncheon keynote address "Health Reform in CA: Looking Back, Looking Ahead" will be delivered by Kimberly Belshe, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. </p> <p>Afterwards, begins Panel II: What Can be Done? Containing Costs through Alternative Programs. Panelists: Dr. Elaine Batchlor, Chief Medical Officer, LA Care Health Plan; Cathy Fogliano, Executive Vice President, Sales, TelaDoc, Inc; Dr. Keith Norris, Executive Vice President for Research and Health Affairs, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science; Jack Reid, President and CEO, Physicians Care and moderator, Ronald C. Mason, CEBS, Principal, Towers Perrin. </p> <p>The final panel is Reform via Technology? Panelists: Dr. Bill Crounse, Senior Director, Worldwide Health, Microsoft Corporation; Dr. Kraig Kinchen, Director of Electronic Exchange of Healthcare Information, Eli Lilly; Dr. John E. Mattison, Chief Medical Information Officer, Assistant Medical Director, and Director of Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect for Southern California and moderator, Dr. Richard S. Baker, Dean, Charles Drew University. The conference closes with Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of Public Health, Los Angeles County. </p> <p>TOWN HALL Los Angeles thanks its sponsors Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Ernst & Young LLP, LA Care Health Plan, Los Angeles Association of Health Underwriters; and civic partners for their support. TOWN HALL Los Angeles has been a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization since 1937. Learn more about TOWN HALL Los Angeles, www.townhall-la.org. </p> <p></p> <pre> Accredited members of the media are invited to cover this event. **Please credit TOWN HALL Los Angeles in your coverage. When: Friday, May 22, 2009 9:00 AM Registration Opens; 6:00 PM Adjourn Where: Fairmont Miramar Hotel Register online at http://www.townhall-la.org/programs/register/1284. </pre> <p></p> <pre>Contact: Deborah Weinberg 213.312.9307 Email Contact </pre>