July Highlights … a brief look at Galen Institute activities in July 2008
Impact
You will see that meetings and conferences dominated our calendar in July -- reflective of the climate in Washington and in the states where leaders are preparing for the next round of the health reform debate. We continue our writing, speaking, and other educational outreach, but we also are working to form new coalitions, strengthen existing ones, and work with members of Congress, state legislators, and political candidates to help them in developing market-based policy proposals.
In the Media
Grace-Marie spoke about reform of the American health sector, the future of health savings accounts, the health reforms proposed by Sens. McCain and Obama, Medicare, prescription drug importation, the importance of choice and innovation, and other health policy issues in radio interviews around the country this month, including:
WBT-AM, Charlotte, NC: Grace-Marie was a guest on Charlotte's Morning News Show on July 13.
The Small Business Advocate Show, Nationally Syndicated: Grace-Marie was interviewed by host Jim Blasingame on July 17.
WCMY-AM, Ottawa, IL: Grace-Marie was a guest on the Mornings with Jay D. LeSeure show on July 25.
KMED-AM, Medford, OR: Grace-Marie was a guest on the Lars Larson Show on July 28.
KFTM-AM, Ft. Morgan, CO: Grace-Marie was a guest on In The Booth with Jim Bunner on July 28.
KZIM-AM, Cape Girardeau, MO: Grace-Marie was a guest on the Morning News Watch show on July 29.
WYSL-AM, Avon, NY: Grace-Marie was a guest on the Health Talk show on July 30.
KTKK-AM, South Jordan, UT: Grace-Marie was a guest on the Mark Maxon Show on July 31.
The San Diego Union Tribune (CA) published several letters to the editor in response to Grace-Marie's commentary refuting the World Health Organization's flawed ranking that puts the U.S. 37th among international health systems.
Grace-Marie's upcoming participation with the Oklahoma Health Care Reform Task Force was widely publicized this month, in Tulsa World (OK), Apria Healthcare (CA), Pauls Valley Daily Democrat (OK), Claremore Daily Progress (OK), and The Journal Record (OK).
Grace-Marie was quoted about the Making Health Care More Affordable Act in "Sununu's health care gambit," an article published by the Concord Sunday Monitor (NH).
Inside Consumer-Directed Care featured a quote from Grace-Marie in "Congress, Not McCain or Obama, Is Likely to Determine Future of HSAs, Observers Say."
Grace-Marie Turner's commentary on HSA substantiation legislation, "Don't Let Legislators Smother Health Savings Accounts," was published by The Des Moines Register (IA), Newport News Daily Press (VA), and the Union Leader (NH).
Grace-Marie's article entitled "Problems are Brewing" about state-based health reform efforts was published in Health Care News and was featured in NCPA's Daily Policy Digest.
We submitted a commentary on the Massachusetts health care plan to The Wall Street Journal.
We submitted a commentary describing Sen. John McCain's health plan to Politics Magazine.
Grace-Marie's commentary on follow-on biologics, "Regulatory Lessons from Europe," was submitted to several publications.
And we submitted "There's More Government than You Think," a commentary which compares the American health care system to European models, to The Baltimore Sun.
We also wrote, produced, and distributed three editions of our popular Health Policy Matters newsletter this month, reaching more than 6,300 subscribers each week. Editions included: Outside the Box; High Stakes; and A Crystal Ball?
Speeches, Meetings, and Other Activities
Grace-Marie spoke about national health reform to top health policy advisors to members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on July 23 in Washington, DC.
Grace-Marie met with Mike O'Dea of Christus Medicus to discuss the State Children's Health Insurance Program on July 7.
Grace-Marie attended the Council for Affordable Health Insurance Summer Health Policy Roundtable on July 8.
Grace-Marie attended the National Center for Policy Analysis Health Care Reform Debate with Rep. Paul Ryan, John Goodman, and Len Nichols on July 9.
Grace-Marie attended a meeting with representatives from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations on July 9.
Grace-Marie met with Ben Monange, Visiting Scholar at the American Political Science Association, on July 9.
Grace-Marie participated in a strategy session on entitlement reform with Representative Paul Ryan and members of his staff on July 10.
Grace-Marie attended a meeting with Dr. Arthur Garson, provost of the University of Virginia, on July 10.
Grace-Marie met with representatives from Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and major company executives about employment-based health and wellness programs on July 14.
Grace-Marie participated in two web conferences with representatives of Compre, Inc. on July 14 and 15.
Grace-Marie participated in the MedEncentive and Free Market Principles web conference on July 15.
We facilitated a Health Policy Consensus Group meeting with Chris Condeluci, Tax and Benefits Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee, on July 16, at The Heritage Foundation.
Grace-Marie met with a Cambridge University medical student to talk about the work of the Galen Institute on July 17.
Grace-Marie attended a Leadership in Reforming Healthcare forum hosted by Pfizer Inc in New York on July 21.
Grace-Marie participated in a meeting with America's Health Insurance Plans representatives to talk about market-based health insurance reforms on July 25.
Grace-Marie participated in an organizational meeting of the Foundation for Health and Productivity on July 28.
Grace-Marie met with health policy fellows from The Heritage Foundation to discuss the work of the Galen Institute on July 29.
Grace-Marie facilitated a meeting of the faith-based health coalition to discuss how to bring the principles of faith, conscience, and values into the health reform debate, hosted by the Family Research Council on July 29.
On July 30, Grace-Marie attended the American Enterprise Institute conference "Can Consumers Save Medicare?"
We facilitated a Health Policy Consensus Group meeting to discuss tax credits for health insurance and other policy initiatives that promote a free-market agenda in the health policy debate this year and in the coming Congress, which was hosted by the American Enterprise Institute on July 30.
Health Policy Activities Report: January - July 2008
