Louisiana Health Care Conference Set for Oct. 12

The Ninth Annual Health Care Conference, sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Insurance, will bring together national experts, state legislators and state and federal regulators to discuss a variety of health care topics.

LDI announced that the conference will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at the Holiday Inn Select (formerly the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center) in Baton Rouge. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley will open the conference at 8:30 a.m. and make closing remarks at 4:30 p.m.

LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman is the keynote luncheon speaker. Other presenters include Louisiana State Representative Karen Carter, chair of the House Insurance Committee, who will give a Health Insurance Legislative Overview. There will be over 20 exhibitors displaying health products and services.

Anyone interested in attending can contact Karen Krumholt at (225) 219-9343, Vanessa Vince at (225)342-5075 or email hcconference@ldi.state.la.us. The registration form and agenda, along with hotel accommodation information, are listed on the Department of Insurance Web site: www.ldi.state.la.us. All licensed life, health and accident producers who attend will be entitled to earn up to six hours of continuing education credit.

Health Care Conference agenda topics:

Minimum Benefit Plans – National health care policy experts and health care professionals will discuss the efforts of Louisiana and other states to remove restrictions from the private insurance market in order for carriers to offer more affordable minimal benefit options to consumers.

Consumer-Driven Health Care – National health care policy experts and business leaders will discuss consumer-driven health care and the role of these plans for employer benefit programs. The panel will also include a discussion of the introduction of Health Savings Accounts.

Balancing the cost of Health Care – National health care policy experts and local health care professionals will discuss the drivers behind increasing health care costs and the impact on the consumer, health care delivery system and the insurance market place.

State and Local Coverage Options for Louisiana’s Uninsured – This panel of national health policy experts and state officials will discuss alternative coverage options for the uninsured. Some of the options were adopted during the 2004 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.