For Immediate Release                       

                                        Contact: Mark Morris
413-233-3178

Health New England and Area Chambers
Host Forum on Health Care Reform

November 13 Event Designed to Inform
Employers and Others on What to Expect
From New Health Care Laws

SPRINGFIELD, MA (Nov. 8, 2006) The changes in health care laws for 2007 are generating many questions for businesses and individuals.  How will the new laws affect Massachusetts residents?  On November 13, that question and many others will be addressed at the Western Massachusetts Health Care Forum.  

The event takes place at the MassMutual Center in Springfield from 8 AM to 2 PM.  Featured speakers at the forum include:

  • Timothy Murphy, Executive Office, Health and Human Services
    Topic: Massachusetts Health Care Reform
  • Bob Carey, Dir. Planning and Development,
    Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector
    Topic:  The Health Care Connector: How the Connector will work for individuals and for business
  • Ron Goetzel, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Health and Productivity,
    Cornell University
    Topic: Making the Business Case for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention – What’s the ROI? 

Health New England and the Chambers of Commerce of Western Massachusetts are sponsoring the forum to help businesses understand what lies ahead for health care coverage in 2007 and beyond. 

According to Peter Straley, President and CEO of Health New England, “We believe the health care reforms, if enacted properly, could result in a better system for everyone.  Right now, however, there are many unanswered questions that people have. The forum is a great opportunity for employers to better understand what the new law means and an opportunity to provide feedback to some of the key players who will enact the law.”

Since the Massachusetts Health Care Reform law was signed by Governor Mitt Romney on April 12th, much work has been done to implement the new law which fully takes effect in 2007.  The most notable actions include the establishment of a new state authority to enroll eligible citizens into the new Commonwealth Care Health Insurance Program.  In addition, the Commonwealth Health Care Connector was created to offer affordable insurance products to individuals and small businesses.  These reform laws are a first in the nation.  Other states are looking to the Massachusetts model for future reform. 

Straley added, “We are hosting the forum because so many employers want to know what to expect as they plan for next year.  The speakers we’ll hear from are on the front lines of making these health care reforms a success.”

About Health New England

Health New England is a managed care organization serving western Massachusetts since 1985. Because of its commitment to accountable, personal service, nearly 100,000 members and 5,000 employers select HNE as their choice for health care coverage, administrative services and programs. HNE employs more than 200 associates at its main offices in Springfield and in its Berkshire County office in Pittsfield.  HNE’s service area covers Franklin, Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire and parts of Worcester counties in Massachusetts.  HNE has been ranked among the top health insurance plans in the United States by independent surveys.

 

        

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