Panelists at Community Forum Agree: Health Reform Is Needed

November 19, 2009

A diverse group of state and national health care experts agreed on two key points during a community forum this week: reforms are needed to improve the health care system and lower costs.

The Carlisle Area Health and Wellness Foundation hosted the forum on Wednesday, November 18, 2009.

While all panelists agreed on the need for reform, they differed somewhat on specifics of various reform proposals.

Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center Director Sharon Ward, who was one of the panelists, explained that a public health care program should be part of any reform package because it will increase competition within the insurance market.

"We think competition is one component to reducing health care costs and we shouldn't throw it out," she said

The other panelists at the forum included:

• Jessica Seabury Larochelle, Field Director, Families USA
• Michael Fiaschetti, Senior Vice President for the Mid-Atlantic Region, Highmark Blue Shield
• Paula Bussard, Senior Vice President for Policy and Regulatory Services, Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania

Alicia Richards, co-anchor of WHTM News, moderated the event. The discussion was intended to help community members demystify how reforms will affect them.

To read or watch news coverage of the event, click on the following links:

• Panel Discusses Health Care Reform, WHTM ABC 27
• In search of health care answers, The Sentinel of Carlisle