Town hall meeting in Warrenton Sept. 3


Senator Doug Berger would like to invite all citizens, civic leaders, and public officials in Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren counties to a 7th Senatorial District Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, September 3, 2009.
The focus of this town hall meeting will be healthcare cost control and reduction. This event will be held at the Warren County Courthouse in Warrenton, NC, beginning at 7:00P.M. The physical address of the courthouse is 109 South Main Street, Warrenton, NC 27589.

The guest speakers will include Mr. Adam Linker from the N.C. Justice Center’s Health Access Coalition, Ms. Chris Collins, and Mrs. Anne Braswell, both of whom are from the NC Department of Health and Human Services. These representatives will discuss, among other things, community care networks in regards to Medicaid recipients and the services provided from HealthNet. They will also discuss how these programs can reduce healthcare costs in North Carolina. Mr. Linker will discuss the advantages of having a Public Healthcare Option and how this option will help reduce healthcare costs for the state. In addition, Mr. Linker will discuss other cost reduction measures that could be used.

Please come out and share your concerns regarding national and state healthcare issues. Your personal stories dealing with the impact of the current healthcare system are welcome. I want to know your opinions on how we can effectively influence the US Congress to expand healthcare coverage. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Biographies for the Guest Speakers:

Mrs. Anne Braswell is the Senior Analyst for Research and Demonstrations and HealthNet Program Director with the Office of Rural Health and Community Care. Ms. Braswell has been employed by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services since 1984, serving in the Division of Social Services, the Division of Medical Assistance, the Office of the Secretary of DHHS, and the Office of Rural Health and Community Care. In addition, she has administered a variety of public programs serving the Aged, Blind, Disabled, Medicaid, Medicare, uninsured and other vulnerable populations.

In her current position, Ms. Braswell researches state and federal regulations and other states’ healthcare financing methodologies for opportunities which can be adapted to support community health initiatives in North Carolina. She is DHHS’ and the Office of Rural Health’s liaison to federal and state authorities, private foundations, community leaders, healthcare providers and the general public for indigent healthcare. Since 2007, she has administered HealthNet, a State funded program providing technical assistance and grants to support communities’ efforts to increase access and quality of care through a coordinated delivery system, and share and conserve resources through collaborative partnerships. HealthNet links safety-net organizations that provide free and low-cost healthcare with Community Care of North Carolina’s networks of physicians and care managers to assure a medical home, primary care and services for uninsured adults.

Ms. Chris Collins is the Deputy Director with the Office of Rural Health and Community Care (ORHCC) and the Assistant Director of Managed Care for the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA). DMA’s managed care program is a Primary Care Case Management Model. Medicaid recipients are provided a medical home that coordinates specialty medical care and provides access to medical advice after hours. Community care networks bring medical homes and other key health care providers together to develop systems of care at the community level to manage the assigned population through activities such as: targeted disease management, chronic care, case management, poly- pharmacy, transitional care, utilization and quality improvement efforts. Independent analysis of Community Care has documented significant annual Medicaid cost savings. North Carolina’s Community Care program received Harvard University’s Innovations in American Government Award in 2007 for its innovative public private partnerships.

ORHCC works with local and state leaders to design and implement innovative strategies that strengthen the ability of communities to meet the health needs of underserved residents. ORHCC programs improve access to quality and cost-effective health care through state and local partnerships, ownership vested in community partnerships, in-depth technical assistance provided on an on-going basis, clear and measured accountability, and activities which are centered on improving the ability of communities to meet the health needs of underserved residents.

Mr. Adam Linker is a policy analyst with the North Carolina Justice Center’s Health Access Coalition. The Health Access Coalition is North Carolina’s leading voice for progressive health care reforms that address the needs of the uninsured and underinsured. The project advocates both for more comprehensive and effective public health care programs and on behalf of average consumers in the private market. Before joining the Justice Center Mr. Linker worked as a healthcare reporter at the Triangle Business Journal.