Why We Need Robust Primary Care, and What Congress Can Do to Help

Tuesday Mar 12, 2013 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm EDT

Rayburn House Office Building, Room B-318

U.S. Capitol Building

Washington, DC 20515

United States

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From the offices of Representative Jim McDermott and Senator Jack Reed:

The United States is experiencing a crisis in primary care. While low-cost, high-quality health systems in other developed nations emphasize prevention and wellness through robust primary care, the American system incentivizes avoidable and costly services and hyperspecialization. We know that we can alleviate this crisis by reforming our health-care delivery system, as well as our systems of educating and training providers. I encourage you and your health staff to attend the following briefing, to hear from thought leaders on what role Congress can play in continuing to reform health care and improve the nation’s health.

Panelists:

Andrew Morris-Singer, M.D. Brigham and Women’s Hospital, President of Primary Care Progress
James C. Welsh, M.D., MBA, MPH, Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center
Jill Rubin Hummel, Vice President, Payment Innovation, WellPoint
Christine Bechtel, Vice President, National Partnership for Women and Families
Closing Remarks: Marci Nielsen, CEO, Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative

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Speakers

Hon. Jim McDermott

Hon. Jack Reed

Christine Bechtel, MA

Consumer advocate and co-founder, X4 Health

Christine Bechtel is a longtime consumer advocate and the co-founder of X4 Health, a purpose-driven organization that uses social impact design to solve problems that matter. 3rd Conversation is one of X4’s programs. Christine has been involved with PCC since its earliest days, having co-chaired a number of PCMH-related working groups. She helped facilitate the development of the Shared Principles of Primary Care across 300 stakeholders on behalf of the PCC. She also spent 18 months working with a primary care practice where she helped its leaders establish a culture of patient- and family-centered care and professional satisfaction. Christine’s previous positions include leadership roles at the National Partnership for Women & Families, the eHealth Initiative, the American Health Quality Association, and AARP. read more

Jill Rubin Hummel, JD

President & General Manager, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Connecticut, Anthem, Inc.

Jill Hummel currently serves as the President & General Manager of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut (Anthem). In this role she is responsible for the management of Anthem’s local Commercial group and individual business, including sales, account management, provider relations and contracting, underwriting and product delivery. She is also responsible for the development of Anthem’s long-term strategic direction and collaborates with elected officials, regulators, providers, employers and other key stakeholders to drive improvements in health care access, quality, experience, outcomes and affordability. read more

Andrew Morris-Singer

President & Principal Founder, Primary Care Progress

Andrew is President and Principal Founder of Primary Care Progress, and both a primary care clinician and community organizer with more than 15 years of experience working on field campaigns. He is a general internist providing primary care at a new patient-centered medical home in Boston. In Spring 2009, Andrew founded the precursor to Primary Care Progress to advocate for improved primary care programming at Harvard Medical School. As the President of PCP, Andrew speaks around the nation about strategic community engagement, clinical innovation, and direct action organizing around primary care. As an instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Andrew also teaches and mentors medical students and residents. read more