Event Features Newt Gingrich, Former US Speaker of the House, and Congressman Nathan Deal
The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce will host its ANNUAL HEALTH CARE CONFERENCE on THURSDAY, AUGUST 17 at the GAINESVILLE CIVIC CENTER. Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and founder of the Center for Health Transformation, will be a featured guest speaker along with Congressman Nathan Deal. The event is open to the public, includes a light breakfast and lunch and is $25 per person. Reservatios required. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the program is 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
“This will be our third annual conference, and this year there is something for everyone,” said Chamber Healthcare Committee Chairman Mimi Collins, CEO of The Longstreet Clinic. “Our agenda and speakers are outstanding and will give the audience a broad view of the economic pressures in the healthcare industry, an overview what is happening at the national level to address these and offer practical options for small and large businesses to control their healthcare costs. The Greater Hall Chamber’s Healthcare Committee has worked hard to bring to the public an informative conference that will highlight the newest healthcare initiatives. We welcome all businesses and citizens to attend.”
A highly sought-after public speaker and world-renowned strategist, Newt Gingrich served as a Member of Congress for 20 years and as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995-1999. Widely recognized for his commitment to a better system of health for all Americans, Mr. Gingrich’s leadership helped save Medicare from bankruptcy, prompted FDA reform to help the seriously ill and initiated a new focus on research, prevention, and wellness.
In his book, Saving Lives and Saving Money, Mr. Gingrich describes his vision of a 21st Century System of Health and Healthcare that is centered on the individual, prevention focused, knowledge intense, and innovation rich. Moreover, he makes the case for a market-mediated system that will improve choice and quality while driving down costs. To foster such a modern system that provides better outcomes at lower cost, Mr. Gingrich launched the Center for Health Transformation. The Center for Health Transformation is a collaboration of transformational leaders dedicated to the creation of a 21st century intelligent health system in which knowledge saves lives and saves money for all Americans.
U.S. Congressman Nathan Deal was first elected to Congress in 1992 and serves the people of the 10th Congressional District of Georgia. As the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, Nathan has been a staunch advocate for increased quality and efficiency in our healthcare delivery system because he believes we can improve outcomes for patients while eliminating inefficiencies which cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year.
Nathan and his wife, Sandra, are the primary caregivers for his 99- year-old mother. This experience has led him to become a leading advocate for long-term health care reform. Nathan was instrumental in the development and passage of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 as well as many other key pieces of legislation. He considers his leadership on reforming the Medicaid program to be his signature achievement, thus far, as subcommittee chairman.
Mike Whitney of Flexible Benefits Group will also speak at the conference. Flexible Benefit Group specializes in designing and providing administrative services to employers who sponsor cafeteria plans for their employees.
Whitney’s topic for the conference is the state of group health insurance, particularly as it exists in the small business world. He will discuss some reasons why so many small group plans have been experiencing double digit inflation and describe some of the techniques that are being used to make it possible for those plans to survive.
“We are very fortunate to have Speaker Gingrich and Congressman Deal as speakers at our Annual Health Care Forum,” said Greater Hall Chamber President and CEO Kit Dunlap. “Their discussion will focus on issues that affect all area businesses and personal lives. And, Mike Whitney will talk about new plans for health insurance. It is our privilege to have such high level speakers come to our community.”
Sponsors for the August 17 Health Care Conference include Consumers Life Insurance Company, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Northeast Georgia Medical Center and Health System, Wellcare, CMA Agency, Inc., Cigna, Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic, The Longstreet Clinic, Hall County Health Department and Northeast Georgia Surgical Associates
The Health Care Conference is open to the public. Cost is $25 per person and includes a light breakfast and lunch, vendor booths and door prizes. Reservations: Katie Davis, 770-532-6206 or e-mail: katie@ghcc.com
Related Links
www.healthtransformation.com
www.house.gov/deal/
www.flexiblebenefitgroup.com