Health Care Reform on the Agenda at the MGMA Conference

The MGMA “In Practice” blog reported yesterday on a panel discussion on health care reform that took place at the MGMA annual conference in New Orleans.

According to the MGMA blog, the panel consisted of:

Charles "Chip" Kahn III, MPH, president of the Federation of American Hospitals

William F. Jessee, MD, FACMPE, president and CEO of the MGMA

Andy Webber, president and CEO of the American National Business Coalition on Health

Michael McCallister, president and CEO of Humana

James Rohack, MD, immediate past president of the AMA

The MGMA reported several interesting quotes from the session, including:

“Even if the Republicans take the House, healthcare reform is not going to be repealed… We'll have some reajudication in 2012 because of the presidential election but not after November.”

-- Chip Kahn III, MPH, on the prospects of health care reform being repealed

“We missed the big goals — universal coverage and cost controls.”

-- Michael McCallister, on opportunities lost during the reform debate

” We're having more conversations about healthcare reform… In order to be competitive in the workforce, with recruitment and retention, you need to have comprehensive employee benefits.”

-- Andy Webber, on employers’ reactions

“Small businesses will likely send people to the [insurance] exchanges… They're going to be bigger than people think.”

-- Michael McCallister, on the possible effects of the new health insurance exchanges

Click here to read the rest of the MGMA “In Practice” blog coverage of this panel discussion.