The Alliance for Health Reform and The Commonwealth Fund discusses the critical role of safety-net hospitals in providing care to vulnerable populations. Panelists will explore such questions as: Who does the safety-net system currently serve and how will this patient mix change as the health reform law plays out? How are safety-net hospitals faring in the current economic environment and how are they altering the way they provide care? How are states and safety-net systems planning for the challenges and opportunities presented under PPACA when its major provisions become effective, starting in 2014 ? What are some policy options for sustaining financial viability of safety-net hospitals in the short-term and long-term?The panel is co-moderated by Ed Howard and Pamela Riley of Commonwealth.

For more information, please visit the Alliance’s event page.

Speakers for this session:

The panel was moderated by Ed Howard of the Alliance and Pamela Riley of The Commonwealth Fund.

• Patrick Conway, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Billy Millwee, Texas Medicaid Director
• Arthur Gianelli, NuHealth System, Nassau County, NY
• Deborah Bachrach, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips