Issued by: Beth Stafford
414-229-4800
bstaff@uwm.edu
Date: June 20, 2002
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Issued by: Beth Stafford Date: June 20, 2002 |
MILWAUKEE
- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is the site of Governor Scott McCallum's
first Health Care Listening Session at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 24 at the Sandburg
Residence Halls, 3400 N. Maryland Ave.
"We've been hearing from many people from all over the state with ideas and the desire to share them. That was my goal for these sessions," says McCallum. "All of us, especially Wisconsin employers, need to know the best and newest ideas for cutting costs and ensuring good health care."
McCallum adds, "I'm confident that by listening to the best practices established by many segments of our community we can continue to improve the health and wellness of Wisconsin's citizens."
McCallum also announced that the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) has devoted a Web page to the listening sessions, in order to update state residents about sites and times for the meetings. The listening sessions page address is http://oci.wi.gov/special/listen.htm
Randall S. Lambrecht, dean of UWM's College of Health Sciences, will attend the session. "The Governor should be applauded for taking the initiative to hear from the public on the impact of escalating health care costs," says Lambrecht. "Significant increases in the cost for providing health care to employees is undermining efforts to stimulate the business economy, and hurting efforts to improve access to the health care system for many people."
Lambrecht continues, "In urban centers like Milwaukee, it has the effect of slowing the progress being made in reducing health disparities and improving the quality of health care delivery. This is a complex issue with financial, human and moral consequences that will require the cooperation of government, providers, employers, employees, communities and consumers working together to solve. The listening sessions serve to stimulate dialogue necessary to work collaboratively.
Insurance Commissioner Connie O'Connell and Health and Family Services Secretary Phyllis Dube' will lead the sessions in Milwaukee, Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse and Wausau. Dates for future sessions will be announced to the news media and posted on the OCI's Web site.
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