Health Department to Hold "Making Medicaid Better" Forum in New Orleans Dec. 16

The "Making Medicaid Better" forum for the New Orleans area will take place Thursday, Dec. 16 from 4-7 p.m. at Pan-American Life Building Conference Center - Orleans Room, 601 Poydras St., in New Orleans (Google map).

This is a public meeting, and media and members of the public are welcome to participate. No registration is required.

This is the final meeting in a series of "Making Medicaid Better" forums the Department of Health and Hospitals held around the state in November and December to further the dialogue with citizens and stakeholders on how to make Medicaid better and improve health outcomes by coordinating recipients' health care. An agenda for this meeting is included below, and is available online.

DHH will record the forum and make the video available at www.MakingMedicaidBetter.com as technology permits, along with videos, presentations and resources from all previous forums. The department is also posting questions received at the forums and answers from Medicaid staff at www.MakingMedicaidBetter.com.

Visitors to www.Making MedicaidBetter.com can review information about DHH's proposal to transform Medicaid, sign up to receive the Making Medicaid Better newsletter and submit their comments or questions electronically. This site is updated frequently as information becomes available, and the public is advised to check there often for the latest news and information.

Making Medicaid Better Forum

December 16, 2010 * 4 p.m. * Pan-American Life Building Conference Center - Orleans Room

4 p.m.    Welcome and State of Health Care in Louisiana
Karen DeSalvo, M.D., Health Commissioner and Senior Advisor to the Mayor for Health Policy
City of New Orleans

Bruce D. Greenstein, Secretary
Department of Health and Hospitals

4:15 p.m.    Plan for Managing Care in Louisiana
Rodney Wise, M.D., Medical Director
Department of Health and Hospitals

4:45 p.m.    A New Orleans Perspective on Managing Care
Donald R. Erwin, M.D., Nephrology
St. Thomas Community Health Center

5 p.m.    Medicaid Managed Care in Other States
Thomas Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer
Medicaid Health Plans of America

5:10 p.m.  Discussion and Question & Answer Session

7 p.m.       Closing