Neil's Notebook Neil leads first meeting of Healthcare Advisory Task Force
August 10, 2009
Neil convened the first meeting of his Healthcare Advisory Task Force to continue the dialogue he established through two community forums that discussed pending healthcare reform legislation.
Coral Andrews of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, left, Jennifer Diesman of HMSA, center, and Neil were among the task force members meeting in Honolulu who spoke via videoconference with Neera Tanden of the Obama Administration's Office of Health Reform. (Photo/Randy Obata, Abercrombie press secretary)
Joining the meeting via a videoconference link was Neera Tanden, senior advisor with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Health Reform, which is helping to spearhead the Obama Administration’s work on healthcare reform.
The task force, comprised of healthcare providers in Hawaii, will be meeting regularly as Congress continues work on the legislation.
The members of the Task Force include:
Dr. Gary Okamoto, Hawaii Medical Association; Randy Caine and Bruce Anderson, Hawaii Pacific University Nursing; Arnar Roy Magnusson and Patricia Blanchette, John A. Burns School of Medicine; Hardy Spoehr, Papa Ola Lokahi; Coral Andrews, Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Emmanuel Kintu and Darrin Sato, Kalihi-Palama Health Centers; James Rarick, Hawaii Association of Health Plans; Howard Lee, UHA (University Health Alliance); Jennifer Diesman, HMSA; Robert Ogawa, Hawaii Long Term Care Association; Beth Giesting, Hawaii Primary Care Association; Mary Pat Waterhouse, Mental Health Association America of Hawaii; Thomas Driskill, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Joseph Morelli, Hawaii State Chiropractic Association; Virginia Pressler, Hawaii Pacific Health.
