Women's Legislative Network Events at NCSL Fall Forum 

November 29 - December 2, 2011

Tampa, Florida

Complete Fall Forum information, with presentations, audio and video of some session here.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Improving Women's Health: Opportunities and Challenges of Health Reform Preconference

Registration, welcome and introductions.

NEW: Audio recordings of all presentations, here.

Short videos of faculty here.

Improving Women's Health: Opportunities and Challenges of Health Reform Preconference

Expanding Access to Care for Women and Exploring Health Delivery Models

This session explored the importance of women’s health, examining women as guardians of family health, challenges to finding a work and life balance and access to care. With millions of uninsured people expected to gain health coverage by 2014, how can states think creatively about expanding access and exploring new health care delivery models to contain costs and ensure people receive care without putting additional pressure on the already strained health system? Alternative care locations such as retail stores and minute clinics may be a viable way to fill in the gaps of primary care, contribute to quality chronic disease management and increase access for traditionally underserved populations. 

Moderator: Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska

Keynote Speaker: Cheryl Pegus, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, Walgreens. PowerPoint presentation. (21-pages PDF file)

Short video of Cheryl Pegus here.

Improving Women's Health: Opportunities and Challenges of Health Reform Preconference

Women’s Health, the Affordable Care Act and Tough Budget Times

This session will explore opportunities within the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to improve women’s health, while also considering the complex landscape of state budget crises. Are the potential gains for women’s health worth the long-term budget challenges many initiatives in the ACA may pose for states? As states are moving forward with implementation, some are challenging aspects of the ACA through state laws or court cases. This complex issue will be discussed considering the ACA and tough budget times and the complication this poses for advocates of women’s health. 

Faculty: Julie Barnes, JD, Director of Health Policy, Bipartisan Policy Center. PowerPoint presentation. (6-pages PDF file) )

Respondents: Shawn Martin, Managing Principal Analyst, California Legislative Analyst’s Office

Representative Mark McCullough, Oklahoma, Co-Chair, NCSL Standing Committee on Health

Senator Harriette Chandler, Massachusetts, Vice Chair, Joint Committee on Public Health

Short video of Julie Barnes here.

Improving Women's Health: Opportunities and Challenges of Health Reform Preconference

Networking Reception

 Improving Women's Health: Opportunities and Challenges of Health Reform Preconference

 Implementing the ACA: Women and Prevention and Wellness Initiatives

The Affordable Care Act contains numerous provisions to promote women’s health and reduce the burden of chronic disease. The ACA emphasizes preventive care by requiring preventive services to be covered without cost-sharing for women. Various grants are also available for states to tackle pressing public health issues such as chronic disease prevention; in addition, Prevention and Public Health Fund dollars are available to each state to invest in public health initiatives, such as working to improve immunization rates. Listen to state roles in these initiatives and the potential effect on women’s health. 

Moderator: Senator Betty Boyd, Colorado

Welcome and Remarks: Christian Lease, Director, Immunization Policy, Novartis Vaccines. PowerPoint presentation. (11-pages PDF file)

Faculty: Sharon Moffatt, RN, BSN, MSN, Chief, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. PowerPoint presentation. (21-pages PDF file)

Short video of Sharon Moffatt here.

Wednesday, November 30

Improving Women's Health: Opportunities and Challenges of Health Reform Preconference

Women’s Health in the Age of Health Reform Discussion

This session gave participants the opportunity to discuss women’s health opportunities and challenges related to the Affordable Care Act with colleagues from other states. Participants reviewed and made recommendations about an NCSL’s Women’s Health in the Age of Health Reform publication with background information, state implementation examples and policy options related to women’s health and the ACA.

Moderator: Representative Rosie Berger, Wyoming, Immediate Past President of the Women's Legislative Network of NCSL

Link to publication: Improving Women's Health: Opportunities and Challenges of Health Reform

Women's Legislative Network Executive Board Meeting

Minutes available upon request.

Civic Education: Breaking through the Barriers
NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee, Women's Legislative Network

Citizen distrust, anger and apathy loom over the legislative process. This session highlighted new efforts to educate and involve citizens in more meaningful ways with the legislature and promote greater understanding of how we make choices in a representative democracy.

Moderator: Laura Hendrix, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky

Speakers: Representative Rosie M. Berger, Wyoming

Representative Ted S. Celeste, Ohio

Karl Kurtz, NCSL

Opening General Session: John Rutledge

For 35 years, John Rutledge has traveled the world advising governments, corporations, pension funds and individual investors on how to create, grow and manage wealth. He is chairman of Rutledge Capital, and was one of the principal architects of the Reagan economic plan in 1980-81.

Hear from John Rutledge.

Opening Reception

NCSL gratefully acknowledges the NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures for sponsoring this event.

General Session Luncheon: A Model for State Pension Reform

States are considering a model for state pension reform called a "hybrid" that provides employees with both a traditional pension plan and a 401(k)-type plan. It has been adopted in Utah and is under consideration in Rhode Island. It can provide safer employee benefits than moving entirely to a 401(k)-type plan, and can be less expensive for governments than a traditional plan. Speakers will show how this plan works, and its pros and cons.

Presiding: Representative Emily Ann Cain, Maine

Speakers: Senator Daniel R. Liljenquist, Utah

Mark Singel, The Winter Group, Pennsylvania

Respondent: Keith Brainard, National Association of State Retirement Administrators, Texas

Videos of the speakers.

Legislative Service with Tough Budget Choices
NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee, Women's Legislative Network

With economic fluctuations and budget constraints for the states, effective legislatures must have a strategic and coordinated fiscal focus. Legislative leaders and directors provide advice on how to prioritize when allocating reduced staff resources, and how to communicate with legislators about changes in services.

Moderator: Sharon Eubanks, Legislative Legal Services, Colorado

Panelists: Karl Aro, Department of Legislative Services, Maryland

Robert McCurley, Alabama Law Institute, Alabama

Speaker Gregory D. Stumbo, Kentucky

Employment Support for Military Families
NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee, Women's Legislative Network

When members of the military receive orders to transfer from one state to another, they often have spouses and children who make the move with them. Many military families depend on the non-enlisted spouse’s income, and cross-country moves can be disruptive. This session highlighted state actions to support military spousal employment and Department of Defense resources for military families.

Moderator: Representative Brent Yonts, Kentucky

Panelists: Representative Gayle B. Harrell, Florida

Ed Kringer, State Liaison & Educational Opportunity, U.S. Department of Defense, Virginia. PowerPoint presentation. (11-pages PDF file)

Katie Savant, National Military Family Association, Virginia. PowerPoint presentation. (14-pages PDF file)

National Military Family Association

National Military Family Association Community Toolkit

NCSL Military and Veterans Affairs database.

NCSL information about unemployment compensation for military spouses.

Closing Reception

NCSL gratefully acknowledges AT&T for sponsoring this event.

General Session Breakfast -- How the Current Budget Crisis Might Reinvent K-12 Education

National and state education leaders will discuss creative and innovative reforms that maintain--or perhaps even reduce--spending while achieving better student performance. Arizona Senator Rich Crandall moderated a panel including Karen Baroody, managing director at Education Resource Strategies; Texas Representative Scott Hochberg, a leader in public school finance and Michael Petrilli, executive vice president at The Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

Fall Forum Business Meeting

The business meeting features consideration of policy directives and resolutions of the 12 Standing Committees adopted earlier in the Forum. Policy directives and resolutions guide NCSL's advocacy efforts before Congress and the administration.

Policy directives and resolutions adopted at the Fall Forum.