PRESS RELEASE
Contact: AHIP Customer Solutions
Phone: 877.291.2247
Email: CustomerSolutions@ahip.org
Website: www.ahip.org

WASHINGTON DC, USA -- HEALTHCARE UPDATE NEWS SERVICE™ -- SEPTEMBER 18, 2008: Early registration for AHIP's Medical Leadership Forum: Health Care's Challenges in a Changing Political Environment, November 5-7, 2008 at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida is quickly approaching. Friday, September 26 is the last day to take advantage of the reduced registration rates to AHIP's first post-election conference.

This year's Forum is an important opportunity during a unique time in our nation's history to discuss the key health issues that challenge the delivery and financing of care. After the General Election—one that will prove to be pivotal for health care notwithstanding of the outcome— this conference will provide you with tools and ideas for leading change, and inspire your own practices and thinking.

AHIP, the leading health insurance plan association with approximately 1,300 members providing coverage to more than 200 million Americans, has assembled a distinguished line-up of keynote speakers who will address health care cost drivers, health care reform, and the post-election political environment.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

• Stuart H. Altman, PhD, Dean of The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, and Sol C. Chaikin Professor of National Health Policy, Brandeis University
• Karen Ignagni, President and CEO, America's Health Insurance Plans
• Norman J. Ornstein, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research; and Election Analyst, CBS News

AHIP has also confirmed a wealth of speakers who will cover the key challenges from health care affordability and medical homes to value-based benefit designs and transparency.

FEATURED SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

• Patrick Courneya, MD, Medical Director, Delivery Systems, HealthPartners, Inc.
• Allan J. Ebbin, MD, MPH, Vice President, Healthcare Quality and Education, UnitedHealthcare Nevada Market
• John Fallon, MD, Chief Physician Executive, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
• Jonathan Gavras, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President, Medical Operations, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida
• Jessica Greene, PhD, MPH, Director, Master of Public Administration Program and Assistant Faculty, University of Oregon
• Bruce Hamory, MD, Executive Vice President, and Chief Medical Officer, Geisinger Health System
• Sam Ho, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Commercial Markets Group, UnitedHealthcare
• Roberta Herman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
• William Kerr, MD, SVP and Chief Medical Officer, WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
• Peter V. Lee, JD, Executive Director, National Health Policy, Pacific Business Group on Health
• Dolores Mitchell, Executive Director, Group Insurance Commission
• Samuel R. Nussbaum, MD, Executive Vice President, Clinical Health Policy, and Chief Medical Officer, WellPoint, Inc.
• Richard Popiel, MD, MBA, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey
• Lewis G. Sandy, MD, Senior Vice President, Clinical Advancement, UnitedHealth Group
• Thom Stambaugh, Chief Pharmacy Officer, CIGNA Pharmacy Management
• Jed Weissberg, MD, Associate Executive Director, Quality and Performance Improvement, The Permanente Federation
• Janet Woodcock, MD, Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration
  

REGISTER NOW TO SAVE
Early Registration Ends Friday, September 26
Register now for the Medical Leadership Forum. Register before Friday, September 26 and save on your registration fee. For more information or to register, visit the conference website and provide promotional code MME09178.

Continuing Education: CME Credits for Physicians
America's Health Insurance Plans is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. America's Health Insurance Plans designates this educational activity for a maximum of 9.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Commercial Support of the Medical Leadership Forum has been provided by:

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company
Philips Healthcare
Thomson Reuter