Chamber Hosts Informational Seminar on Healthcare Reform
August 11, 2010
The Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce will host a seminar titled "Healthcare Reform: What does it all mean?" on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at Stephen Decatur Middle School, 1 Educational Park, Decatur, Illinois. This event is free and open to the public.
The seminar will feature expert panel members presenting information on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act from an employer's perspective. Featured speakers include:
· Dr. Robert Rich - University of Illinois Professor and Director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs
· Jeff Ingrum - CEO and President, Health Alliance Medical Plans, Inc.
· Greg Smith - Vice President of Sales and Operations, R.W. Garrett Agency, Inc.
Participants are encouraged to submit questions regarding healthcare reform to the Chamber in advance of the seminar so the speakers will be able to address specific concerns. Questions must be submitted to the Chamber by emailing Stephanie Irby at events@decaturchamber.com or calling 422-2200 by close of business on Monday, August 16.
Speaker Biographies:
Dr. Robert Rich - Director, Institute of Government and Public Affairs; University of Illinois Professor
University of Illinois Professor Robert Rich teaches courses on health law and social policy and directs the Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA). Dr. Rich has joint appointments with the University of Illinois College of Medicine, the Political Science Department, and the College of Law.
Dr. Rich is the founder and former director of the Office of Public Leadership at IGPA, which offers educational programs to elected and non-elected local government officials. In addition, he serves as the coordinator for the local and state government strategic initiative of the Partnership Illinois Program.
Dr. Rich's research focuses on health law and policy, federalism and the role of the states, environmental policy, and science policy. He has published five books. He serves as the Board Vice President for the Warren and Clara Cole Foundation; a health care research foundation in Chicago, and has served as a consultant for a wide variety of federal and state government agencies.
Dr. Rich received his B.A. (with high honors) from Oberlin College and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Before joining the faculty of the University of Illinois in 1986, he served on the faculties of the University of Michigan, Princeton University, and Carnegie-Mellon University.
Jeff Ingrum - CEO and President, Health Alliance Medical Plans, Inc.
Jeff Ingrum is Chief Executive Officer of Health Alliance Medical Plans, a subsidiary of The Carle Foundation in Urbana, Illinois. Founded in 1980, Health Alliance administers health plans for more than 300,000 lives and offers HMO, PPO, POS and Consumer Driven health plans under fully insured and self-funded arrangements, as well as Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans.
Ingrum joined Health Alliance as director of financial analysis in 1987 and was promoted from CFO to CEO in 1997. As CEO, he has set a course to deliver value to all of the company's stakeholders-employers, members, brokers, and employees. Consequently, Health Alliance has achieved significant growth, maintained financial stability and achieved some of the highest scores for quality, member satisfaction and provider satisfaction in the nation.
Ingrum has played a vital role in maintaining a quality focus at Health Alliance, which has resulted in continuing Excellent Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Health Alliance has also been named one of America's Best Health Plans by U.S. News & World Report and NCQA for the last five years.
Greg Smith - Vice President of Sales and Operations, R.W. Garrett Agency, Inc.
The R.W. Garrett Agency, Inc., founded in 1982, specializes in group medical plans. The agency provides customers with quality small group, large group and partially self-funded insurance programs.
Smith has 17 years experience with a major insurance company and 10 years with the R.W. Garrett Agency. He uses his expertise to develop and implement processes, products and services that help the agency deliver on promises to its customers. Smith has served on the Starmark advisory board, a State of Illinois insurance task force, and was President of the Illinois State Association of Health Underwriters.
