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About Our Recent Health Care Conference

Held: November 27, 2007 Location: Albany NY Co- Sponsor: Finger Lakes HSA

About the Conference
As New Yorkers confront the recommendations of the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century (the Berger or “Right-sizing” Commission), it is timely to ask how community health planning could help address future health system capacity issues. The conference allowed policy experts and stakeholders to explore how the state and communities can use health planning as a tool to help balance community need and market reality for the better health of state residents.

The conference was sponsored by the Center for Governmental Research (CGR) with the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency (FLHSA). CGR is a nonprofit, non-partisan, independent research organization that has worked since 1915 to inform and empower leaders working to improve the quality of their communities. FLHSA is the only fully functioning community health planning agency in NY, using data, capacity analysis and community engagement to promote the health of the Finger Lakes population.

Presenters

Keynote Speaker
James R. Tallon Jr.
President, United Hospital Fund
James Tallon focused on shaping positive change in health care for New Yorkers. He led Eliot Spitzer’s health care policy advisory committee in the gubernatorial transition, chairs the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, is on the NYS Board of Regents, and served 19 years in the NYS Assembly.

Kemp Hannon
Chair, NYS Senate Health Committee
Kemp Hannon represents New York’s 6th Senate District and is regarded widely as an expert in health care public policy.  He played key roles in the development of Child Health Plus; Family Health Plus and other major health programs and served as co-chair of the Senate Medicaid Reform Task Force.   Senator Hannon discussed the role of planning in NYS health care.

James R. Knickman
President/CEO, NYS Health Foundation
James Knickman heads NY’s largest health care conversion foundation, which has been in operation since May 2006. Previously he was VP of Research and Evaluation at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Knickman addressed foundations’ role in meeting the needs of the state’s residents.

David H. Klein
CEO, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
Excellus is part of a $5.85 billion family of companies that is the largest provider of health insurance in upstate NY, covering 2 million members. The insurer is one of NY’s top 20 employers. Mr. Klein talked about balancing overlapping interests between insurers and community planners.

Daniel Sisto
President, Healthcare Association of NYS
Daniel Sisto has served as HANYS President since 1986. Previously he was Executive V.P. of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council and former Deputy Director of the Nassau-Suffolk Health Systems Agency. Mr. Sisto spoke on the art of planning for improved care while keeping providers whole.

Marsha Gordon
President/CEO, Business Council of Westchester
Marsha Gordon heads Westchester County’s largest business organization. Dr. Gordon promotes a pro-business agenda at county, state and federal levels and speaks throughout the Hudson Valley on legislative and regulatory issues. She talked about the role of planning in cost control.

James Clyne Jr.
Deputy Commissioner, Office of Health Systems Management
As Deputy Commissioner James Clyne supervises NY’s regulations involving health care institutions. He is also in charge of implementing the recommendations of the Berger Commission. Mr. Clyne will spoke about the role of planning in NYS health care.

Click here to view full list of presenters

Agenda