December 18, 2012

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Foundation of Associated Industries of Florida (FAIF) is proud to announce that House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Congressman Tom Price, M.D. (R-GA) and President of Health Care Quality Advisors Michael Millenson will participate as keynote speakers for the upcoming 2013 Florida Health Care Affordability Summit. The Summit, which will take place at the World Center Marriott in Orlando, Fla., on January 10-11, 2013, will serve as an open forum to help establish potential health care modernization proposals to provide for accessible, affordable and high quality health care to all Floridians.

Congressman Price currently serves as the fifth ranking Republican in the House of Representatives as the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. He was first elected to represent Georgia‟s Sixth Congressional District in 2004. Since then, Chairman Price has served as the chairman of the Republican Study Committee and proved himself as the quality source for Republican health care policy. Chairman Price sits on the House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Budget Committee. He is dedicated to principled leadership and shows an unwavering commitment to policies that create private sector jobs. Chairman Price remains a fierce opponent of government waste and is devoted to limited government and lower spending.

“The Foundation of AIF, along with all of our Summit sponsors, is extremely honored to have Chairman Tom Price and Michael Millenson deliver the keynote addresses at our health care summit this coming January,” said Tom Feeney, AIF president and CEO. “Chairman Price is an experienced and extremely qualified proponent of quality health care policy in the U.S. House and will undoubtedly help enlighten our panelists and attendees on the areas of critical need when it comes to helping increase patient access to quality care.”

Michael Millenson is a nationally-recognized expert on quality of care improvement, patient-centered care and web-based health. He is the author of the critically-acclaimed book, Demanding Medical Excellence: Doctors and Accountability in the Information Age, and he holds an adjunct appointment as the Mervin Shalowitz, M.D. Visiting Scholar at Northwestern University‟s Kellogg School of Management. National Public Radio called him “in the vanguard of the movement” to measure and improve American medicine. Millenson works in health policy and strategy, as well as spearheads innovative projects, such as a website to help consumers make better care decisions, a tool to improve doctor-patient communication and an internal hospital report card on quality of care. His clients have included health plans, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, entrepreneurs and nonprofits. Prior to starting his own company, Millenson was a principal in the health care practice of a major human resources consulting firm. Before that, he was a health care reporter for the Chicago Tribune, where he was nominated three times for a Pulitzer Prize.

“Mr. Millenson is an extremely accomplished author and national authority when it comes to improving the quality of care available to America‟s consumers and patients,” said Feeney. “His guidance will help drive us in the most appropriate direction to help improve the quality and accountability of Florida‟s health care system.”

Moderating the selected panels of discussion throughout the course of the Summit will be some of the most instrumental members of the Florida Legislature in the creation of health care reform proposals for the 2013 Legislative Session. Confirmed moderators are:

• Senator Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) - Chair, Senate Health Policy Committee
• Senator Denise Grimsley (R-Sebring) - Chair, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health & Human Services
• Senator Joe Negron (R-Stuart) - Chair, Senate Committee on Appropriations and Senate Select Committee on Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act
• Representative Richard Corcoran (R-New Port Richey) - Chair, House Health & Human Services Committee
• Representative Matt Hudson (R-Naples) - Chair, House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee
• Representative John Wood (R-Winter Haven) - Chair, House Health & Human Services Committee

Sponsors of the 2013 Health Care Affordability Summit include Aetna, Ashford University, AT&T, AvMed Health Plans, Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Florida Blue, Health Management Associates, Humana, Laser Spine Institute, Sunshine Health, Tenet Healthcare Corporation, UnitedHealth Group, Walgreens, and WellCare Health Plans.

For the latest updates on the Summit agenda and events, please visit www.healthcareflorida.com. You can also „like‟ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @FLHealthCare.