Kansas City Community Forum
National and state leaders representing an array of sectors across Kansas and Missouri, including representatives from the American Hospital Association (AHA) came together to discuss health reform at an interactive community forum. Leaders highlighted successes the states have seen in working towards health reform and discussed other steps they can take to keep reform moving forward at the national and state level.
Hosted by the AHA, the Kansas Hospital Association (KHA), and the Missouri Hospital Association (MHA), and in conjunction with the Mid-America Coalition on Health Care, panelists and audience members discussed key issues around health reform within the AHA’s Health for Life framework.
At the top of the agenda were discussions about the growing number of uninsured and underinsured Americans and the skyrocketing health care costs amidst the economic downturn. A recent survey by the Commonwealth Fund found that eight in 10 respondents agreed that the health care system needs either fundamental change or complete rebuilding. With public support for health reform at an all-time high and health care as a key issue in the presidential campaigns, forum participants sought to build consensus around potential solutions to the broken system.
The community forum focused on the need for commitment and leadership in tackling health reform at the national and state level. Audience members guided the interactive discussion by voting with handheld devices on the most important health reform issues to them, allowing panelists to respond directly to audience concerns, highlight the successes in Kansas and Missouri, and make suggestions on how to do more.
Forum panelists
William L. Bruning, JD, MBA., Mid-America Coalition on Health Care (Moderator)
John W. Bluford, MBA, CHE, American Hospital Association Board of Trustees and Truman Medical Centers
Tom Bowser, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City and Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Brad Cloverdyke, American Century Investments
Helen R. Connors, RN, PhD, Dr PS (Hon), FAAN, University of Kansas Medical Center
Barrett Hatches, Swope Health Services and Swope Community Enterprises
Douglas E. Henley, M.D., American Academy of Family Physicians
Julie Quirin, Saint Luke’s South Hospital and Kansas City Metropolitan Healthcare Council
Steve Roling, Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Steve Wilkinson, Menorah Medical Center and Kansas City Metropolitan Healthcare Council
Read more
AHA News Now, "Health for Life forums continue in Kansas City," October 14, 2008.
KCUR News, "Area Health Leaders Step Up Efforts for Health Reform," October 16, 2008, Elana Gordon
Health for Life Community Forums Main Page