Life University to host 2012 Octagon Conference on health reform

March 26, 2012 — The Octagon, a think-tank and policy oriented center at Life University will host its fourth annual conference titled “Reimagining Health Care: Making Health the Goal” April 12-14, 2012.

This year’s conference will focus on healthcare reform and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) according to the Director of the Octagon, Gerard W. Clum, DC.

The three-day meeting will bring nationally known and respected leaders from the worlds of politics, business, law, health policy, and healthcare. The keynote speakers will include Dee Edington, PhD, professor of Movement Science, University of Michigan —the godfather of worksite related health and wellness efforts; Mr. Andy Webber, president of the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) with membership reflecting an employee base of more than 25 million; Clem Bezold, PhD, Chairman and Senior Futurist from the Institute for Alternative Futures (IAF); Ms. Deborah Senn, former Insurance Commissioner, State of Washington considered by many consumer groups to have been the “best insurance commissioner in the country;” and Mr. Greg Etzel of King & Spalding Law, Houston, Texas a noted national lecturer on the changing landscape of federal funding for healthcare.

Another dozen speakers, including Life University president, Dr. Guy Riekeman, will round out the program addressing everything from the recent Supreme Court arguments related to the PPACA legislation to the development of the basic benefits package to the refinement of the delivery systems such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs).

On Saturday, April 14 the program attendees and the presenters will come together in a series of policy review and development sessions seeking to distill recommendations toward further policy change and program enhancement.

“In general people think they know more about health care reform and the PPACA legislation than they really do as most consumers and healthcare providers have been informed about the legislation by various interest groups.” Noted the Octagon’s Gerard W. Clum, DC. “This conference offers anyone from a consumer interested in the future of health care to those providing care to business leaders helping to fund care a more complete and thorough understanding of the elements of reform” added Clum.

The conference has garnered the support of many organizations and groups ranging from educational institutions such as the University of Bridgeport, Cleveland

Chiropractic College, Life Chiropractic College West, and Bastyr University, to policy oriented agencies such as the Integrated Healthcare Policy Institute (IHPC).

Area business leaders participating with the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce were briefed on the conference by Life University president Dr. Guy Riekeman at their March breakfast meeting. The Octagon extends a special reduced fee invitation to all Cobb County Chamber of Commerce members as well as to any interested healthcare providers, healthcare organizations, area businesses and interested individuals for the opening session on Thursday, April 12 from noon to 6:00 p.m. Single day or full registration opportunities for the remainder of the program are also available.

Information about the Octagon, its 2012 conference, and registration is available online at lifeoctagon.org. The program will offer 11 hours of continuing education credit in Georgia and several other states.

To view the Life Octagon brochure, click here.

Source: Life University, life.edu