Will Health Care be Great in 2008?

 Friday, January 4, 2008
8:30 - 10:00 AM (coffee & networking at 8 AM)
Davenport University LETTINGA CAMPUS – Meeting Room
6191 Kraft Ave SE - Grand Rapids MI 49512
(Call 616-248-3820 for a map to be faxed or emailed) 

What’s in store for health care in the coming year?  It’s here again! Our annual forecasting, prognosticating, hoping and dreaming forum!  This year’s panel of experts will do their best to predict according to their field of expertise.

Are there new ideas or trends on the horizon?   What about costs?  Up? Down?  Will home care, outpatient services and less invasive procedures continue to increase?  How much will we pay for new technology?  Is anyone in health care getting rich? Will Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement be looked upon as fair?  Who will have their pay depend on their performance? Will health care providers – including mental health providers – be connected? Are employers getting innovative in dealing with benefits cost increases?  Will mental health parity become a reality this year?  What is the outlook for health care staffing and shortages? How do we pay for and staff the new health care buildings?  Can the construction boom continue? What types of construction projects are planned?  Is our long-term care community ready to meet the boomers?  How about our state legislature – anything hopeful?  Who will come to West Michigan for care and from where? 

You won’t want to miss this form!  This is the most anticipated forum each year. Start the New Year off with a thought-provoking and refreshing forum with friends and colleagues. RSVP today! 

Moderator – Bill Hardiman – State Senator

Speakers, Representing:

Medicine – Greg Forzley, MD – Medical Director of Informatics, Saint Mary’s Health Care & Chair, Board of Directors, Michigan State Medical Society

Health Plans – Deborah Lantzy-Talpos – Product Head, Aetna

Acute Care – Paul Bonis – CEO, Spectrum Health United Memorial, Greenville

Mental Health – Paul Ippel – Executive Director, Network 180

Long Term Care – Dave Herbel – President  & CEO, Michigan Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (MAHSA)

Legal – Larry Titley - Partner & Head of Employee Benefits Practice Group, Varnum

RSVP by noon January 3, 2008
Email:  alliance@afh.org

This forum will be videotaped and broadcast on Grand Rapids area cable station 24, Livewire, at 7:00 PM, Friday, January 25, 2008.