Health Department to Hold "Making Medicaid Better Forum" in Baton Rouge Nov. 17

The Department of Health and Hospitals will hold a series of "Making Medicaid Better" forums around the state through mid-December to further the dialogue with citizens and stakeholders on how to make Medicaid better and improve health outcomes by managing recipients' care.

The first "Making Medicaid Better" forum will take place tomorrow (Wednesday, Nov. 17), from 1-5:30 p.m. at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center's Pennington Conference Center, 6400 Perkins Road in Baton Rouge (Google map). This is a public meeting, and media and members of the public are welcome to participate. No registration is required. The forum also will be streamed live at www.MakingMedicaidBetter.com as technology permits. An agenda for this meeting is included below, and is available online.

Following this initial forum, DHH will hold meetings across the state through mid-December to continue the dialogue.  The schedule of those meetings is online at www.MakingMedicaidBetter.com. This site will be updated frequently as more information becomes available, and the public is advised to check there often for the latest details. Visitors to the site also can review information about DHH's proposal to transform Medicaid and can submit their comments electronically.

Making Medicaid Better Forum

November 17, 2010 * 1 p.m. * Pennington Biomedical Research Center Conference Center

1 p.m.    Welcome and State of Health Care in Louisiana
Bruce Greenstein, Secretary
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

Kay Kellogg Katz, Representative and Chairwoman
Louisiana House of Representatives, Health and Welfare Committee

1:15 p.m.    Managing Care in the U.S.
Alan Weil, Executive Director
National Academy for State Health Policy

1:55 p.m.    Q&A with Alan Weil

2:15 p.m.    Focus on Quality and Performance Measures
Michael Fleming, M.D
Past President and Board Member, Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum
Past President, American Academy of Family Physicians

Henry Evans, Jr., M.D.
President, Louisiana Medical Association

2:35 p.m.    BREAK

2:50 p.m.    Managing Care: Louisiana's Future
Bruce Greenstein, Secretary
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

3:10 p.m.    A Louisiana Perspective on Managing Care
Gary Jones, M.D., CEO
Vantage Health Plan

3:30 p.m.    Financing and Payment
Ruth Kennedy, Deputy Director
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Medicaid

3:45 p.m.    Q&A: Financing and Payment

4:30 p.m.    Coverage and Benefits
Rodney Wise, M.D., Medical Director
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Medicaid

4:45 p.m.    Q&A: Coverage and Benefits

5:30 p.m.    Closing and Schedule of Regional Meetings