WASHINGTON—Tuesday the National Health Law Program’s (NHeLP) premier event–the annual Health Advocates Conference–came to a close, ending three days of intense and forward-looking discussion about health policy for the nation’s most vulnerable.
“Our conference comes at the end of a busy year in health policy and looking ahead to an even busier one,” said Emily Spitzer, NHeLP executive director. “As health policy continues to change shape and evolve, especially as implementation of the Affordable Care Act moves along, gatherings like these offer the opportunity for both new and seasoned advocates to come together and tackle some of the most pressing issues.”
NHeLP capped off the conference Monday night with an engaging discussion by Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel at an event hosted by NHeLP Board Chairman Marc Fleischaker, chairman emeritus of Arent Fox LLP. Dr. Emanuel laid out his predictions for America’s health system, from provider and delivery reforms to the eventual success of the Medicaid expansion–an issue NHeLP has supported and defended since the Supreme Court’s decision giving states the option to expand.
The conference is in its 24th year and brought together more than 150 health advocates, attorneys, leading industry experts and government representatives from 26 states. Guest speakers included Rick Johnson of Lake Research Partners and a number of other leading health professionals and government representatives.
Advocates participated in workshops covering a variety of health issues, including Medicaid enrollment and eligibility, reproductive health access, potential policy concerns arising from Capitol Hill and many other issues facing state health advocates.
NHeLP convenes the conference annually as a forum to educate and collaborate with health-care advocates and leaders from around the nation.
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