NCSL Standing Committee on Health
Preliminary Agenda
Spring Forum 2006
April 6-8, 2006
Hyatt Regency, Washington, D.C.
(as of March 27, 2006)
Thursday | Friday | Saturday
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8:00 am - noon |
Ancillary Groups, Task Forces and Staff Sections |
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8:45 am - 3:30 pm |
Rural Health Preconference Meeting: "Federal Rural Health Resources for States" Agenda |
| 9:30 am - 11:30 am |
Forum Preconference Meeting: "State Partnerships: Setting the Stage for an Emerging Workforce" Agenda
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11:00 am - 6:00 pm |
Spring Forum Registration |
| 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm |
Critical Health Areas Project Agenda |
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4:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
Opening Plenary: The 2006 National Agenda
 House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland will outline the Democratic perspective on the 2006 congressional agenda. Representative Hoyer, who was president of the Maryland Senate before coming to Congress, is speaking in place of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Representative Hoyer will be joined by the Honorable George Reid, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Parliament is NCSL's newest international affiliate. Presiding Officer Reid brings greetings from Scotland and will comment on the National Tartan Day celebrations in the United States.
Speakers:
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Maryland
Honorable George Reid, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament |
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5:15 pm - 6:00 pm |
Steering Committee Meeting |
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6:15 pm - 7:30 pm |
Reception at Hyatt Regency |
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7:00 a. - 6:00 pm |
Registration |
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8:00 am - 9:30 am |
 General Session Breakfast: The Administration's Domestic Priorities
Major changes made in the past few months to Medicaid, Medicare and welfare are of compelling interest to state legislatures. Secretary Leavitt, former governor of Utah, will provide an update on how the Department of Health and Human Services is implementing these critical state-federal programs.
Speaker:
The Honorable Michael Leavitt, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services |
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9:45 am - 5:00 pm |
Standing Committee on Health |
9:45 am - 10:30 am
Congressional A |
Reconciliation: What Does it Mean for States?
(joint session with the Budgets & Revenue Committee and the Health and Human Services & Welfare Committee)
In February, the President signed the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The new law provides a net $39 billion in federal savings from various entitlement and mandatory programs. Come hear what it means for states as it relates to Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant.
Speakers:
Joy Johnson Wilson, Health Policy Director, NCSL, Washington, D.C.
Sheri Steisel, Director of Human Services Policy, NCSL, Washington, D.C. |
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Yellowstone/Everglades
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State False Claims Act
This session will discuss a provision of the Deficit Reduction Act that encourages states to enact false claims acts.
Speaker:
Nicholas Podsiadly, Investigator and Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, Washington, D.C. |
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11:15 am - 12:00 pm
Yellowstone/Everglades |
Federal Update |
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12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Yellowstone/Everglades |
Congressional Roundtable and Working Lunch |
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1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Yellowstone/Everglades |
Medicare Part D: Latest State Updates
As part of their ongoing efforts to help Medicare beneficiaries understand Part D, states often are reshaping or creating State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs to provide additional wrap-around support for Part D enrollees. States are looking at Part D's impact on Medicaid prescription drug programs, including preferred drug lists and rebates. Learn about current state legislative activity on prescription drugs related to Part D and hear from the federal government about key implementation issues affecting states.
Speakers:
Joseph Fine, Health Insurance Specialist, Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group, Centers for Medicaid and State Operations, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Baltimore, MD
Cora Tracy, Health Insurance Specialist, Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group, Centers for Medicaid and State Operations, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Baltimore, MD
Richard Cauchi, Program Director, NCSL, Denver, CO
Donna Folkemer, Group Director, NCSL, Washington, D.C. |
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2:15 pm - 3:00 pm
Yellowstone/Everglades |
Integrated Public Health Information Systems
Integrated public health information systems may improve the ability of states to deliver comprehensive public health services, manage clients, conduct quality assurance, and research and track diseases. Speakers will provide a framework for policymakers interested in establishing new or evaluating current systems and discuss potential barriers to integration, including privacy issues.
Speakers:
Mary Shaffran, MPA, Principal Director, Public Health Systems Programs |
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3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Yellowstone/Everglades |
Consumer Driven Health Insurance: New State Solutions in 2006?
From corporate boardrooms to the President's State of the Union, the idea of health savings accounts has attracted attention, support and nagging concerns. In 2005 at least 26 states enacted laws directly affecting health savings accounts and their associated high-deductible health insurance plans. At least three states hope to integrate "CDHPs" into Medicaid via legislation and federal waivers. These market-based tools are aimed at lowering premium costs and requiring increased consumer responsibility. Yet the "bare bones" policies often associated with such plans may leave a family with hefty charges for routine or not-so-routine medical services. This "mini-summit" session will examine facts, opinions and some unknowns.
Speakers:
Paul Fronstin, Ph.D., Director, Health Research and Education Program, Employee Benefit Research Institute
Washington, DC
Tracy Cassidy Watts, Principal, Healthcare and Group Benefits, Mercer MM Companies, Washington DC
Roy Ramthun, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, National Economic Council, Washington, D.C.
Simmi Singh, VP for Healthcare Practice at Cognizant Technology Solutions, Chicago, IL
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5:15 pm - 6:15 pm |
Steering Committee Meeting |
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6:30 pm - 8:00 pm |
Reception at the National Museum of the American Indian |
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8:30 am - 10:30 |
Special Briefings:
Avian Flu and Public Health Preparedness
Responding to a public health crisis is a joint responsibility of state, federal and local governments. Is the country prepared for a pandemic? What steps can state legislators and other officials take to deal effectively with avian flu and other public health crises?
Speakers:
James S. Blumenstock, Senior Principal Director, Public Health Protection and Preparedness Policy, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Washington, DC
Admiral John O. Agwunobi, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.
The States and Global Climate Change
State and local governments have been the leaders in addressing climate change. This session will look at some of these recent approaches, as well as various proposed federal initiatives. |
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10:45 am - 11:30 pm |
Policy Forum: Debate and Voting on Official Policy Statements and Resolutions |
| 11:30 am - 5:30 pm |
Medicaid Task Force Agenda |
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11:45 am - 1:30 pm |
Plenary Lunch: America's Fiscal Future
Decisions made day by day in Washington determine the country's long-term fiscal future, and have a direct effect on the integrity of state budgets. David Walker, Comptroller-General of the United States and director of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, will discuss the growing imbalance between expected federal tax revenues and spending.
Speaker:
David Walker, Comptroller-General of the United States & Director of the GAO |
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Co-Chairs
Senator Dennis Byars, Nebraska, Chair
Joe Flores, Virginia, Staff Chair
Legislative Vice Chairs
Rep. Betty Boyd, Colorado
Rep. JoAnne Favors, Tennessee
Rep. Brad Last, Utah
Rep. Larry Meuli, Wyoming
Staff Vice Chairs
Jacquie Donaldson, New York
David Knutson, Washington
Richard Sweet, Wisconsin
NCSL Staff Contacts
Martha King, Denver
Joy Johnson Wilson, Washington, D.C. |
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Meeting Information
Four ways to register
- Online
- Fax: 303 364-7811
- Mail: NCSL Registration
P.O. Box 17972
Denver, CO 80217
- Onsite after April 6
Committee Staff Contacts
- Martha King
(303) 856-1448
- Joy Johnson Wilson
(202) 624-8689
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