Salve Regina University

NEWPORT, R.I. – With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to rule on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act and as the race for president builds to its crescendo in November, the politics of health care reform will be front and center.

To shed light on the law, its status, and how it will affect Rhode Islanders moving forward, the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy at Salve Regina University will host a half-day conference on Monday, April 30 from 1-4:30 p.m. “Health Care Reform and Rhode Island: The Law, the Politics and the Implementation” will feature keynote remarks from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee who has made lowering costs and increasing the quality of care a priority issue.

The Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy is located in the Young Building, corner of Bellevue and Ruggles avenues.

Joining in the discussion will be a who’s-who of health care officials and policy makers, including Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts. The media is encouraged to attend, as leading experts in the field will discuss how Rhode Islanders will be impacted by this important issue.

“The Pell Center is delighted to host this conference on health care reform and its implementation in Rhode Island,” said James Ludes, executive director. “We see in this event an opportunity for elected officials, corporate executives, policy analysts and the public to come together for informed discussion about the most powerful public issue in the public debate since President Obama was elected.”

Following is the agenda and key participants:

12:30 p.m. – Registration

1 p.m. – Panel I: The Policy and Politics of Healthcare Reform

What are the key features of the Affordable Care Act?  What are they intended to do?  How were they developed?  How did policy and politics come together in the crafting of the legislation?  What are the key political and policy issues today?  What is the Supreme Court considering?  How will it affect the debate moving forward?

Participants:

Jordanna Davis, Senior Associate, Sachs Consulting.
Darrell West, Vice President and Director, Governance Studies, Brookings.
Linda Katz, Co-Founder and Policy Director, The Economic Progress Institute.

2:15 p.m. – Panel II: Healthcare Reform Implementation in Rhode Island

While the national political debate simmers, the implementation of the Affordable Care Act continues.  How has the law already affected the State of Rhode Island and the people who live here?  What are consumers likely to see affect them in the coming months and years?  How will the citizens of the state be affected by major changes from Washington?

Participants:

Jane Hayward, President, RI Community Health Center Association.
Christopher Koller, Health Insurance Commissioner, Office of Health Insurance Commissioner, State of Rhode Island.
Peter Andruszkiewicz, President, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.
Dennis Keefe, President & Chief Executive Officer at Care New England.
Elizabeth Roberts, Lt. Governor of Rhode Island.