Summit to Address Significant Business Challenge: Health Care Reform
Even prior to the current economic crisis, small and large businesses alike were experiencing health care insurance costs spiraling out of control. At the same time, employees were seeing more and more of their salaries and wages diverted to out-of-pocket health care expenses.
The Washington County Economic Summit will address this compelling issue during an informative breakout session, "Healthcare Reform: Utah's Chance to Lead the Nation," at the January 14th event.
Jeff Edwards, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah said health care and insurance costs are always at the top of the list when business owners are surveyed about their most significant challenges.
The Summit's healthcare reform panel breakout session, moderated by Edwards, will feature southern Utah's own Representative David Clark, Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives, District 74 who has led the creation of a task force to study issues surrounding reform.
The panel will also include Natalie Gochnour, Chief Operating Officer of the Salt Lake Chamber, who has extensively studied the topic for her business advocacy organization. Greg Poulsen, Senior Vice president of Intermountain Health will join the panel representing one of the largest health care providers in the state. Earl Hurst, President of Humana Utah
will represent the insurance point of view.
"Seldom have we had a chance to hear viewpoints from a panel of this stature with extensive experience both on the state and national levels," Edwards said. The group will address the topics of:
- Legislative task force study findings
- Impact of federal policies on state regulatory environment
- Health care providers view of changes
- Insurance industry perspectives of reform
- Impacts of current situation and proposed solutions on Utah businesses
- Potential legislative actions
To register for the Washington County Economic Summit, please go to www.whatsupdownsouth.com. Prices include two meals, the Summit book and portfolio with all presenter contacts and summaries, and all sessions. Please call 435-652-7741 with questions.
ABOUT The Washington County ECONOMIC SUMMIT
Now in its 12th year, the Washington County Economic Summit has the reputation of being the premier business planning event of southern Utah. The Summit has come to be known as "What's Up Down South," after its most popular session, the rapid fire bullet-point presentations of future projects that will impact the economy of Washington County for the next 18 months. Keynote presenters at breakfast and lunch, as well as two sessions of breakout presentations round out the day's events. Also featured are the afternoon "bonus sessions" that extend the learning and networking opportunities after lunch. The bonus sessions are open to the general public at no charge. Breakfast Welcoming Remarks will be given by Governor Jon Huntsman. Keynoting the lunch session will be Amy Rees Lewis Anderson, CEO of MediConnect. www.whatsupdownsouth.com
