Role of Consumers in Health Reform Seminar

The American Institutes for Research (AIR) hosted a seminar, “Ready or Not: The Role of Consumers in Health Reform,” on Wednesday, June 10, 2009.

The seminar featured leading health experts from AIR, the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing in Canberra, Australia, and Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute.

A panel discussion was held on the role of consumers in choosing health plans, understanding the role of evidence-based medicine, and development of materials for consumers, followed by an address by Dr. Ruth Lopert, the chief medical officer in the Australian therapeutic products regulatory agency.

Seminar participants:

Dr. Ruth Lopert is the chief medical officer in the Australian therapeutic products regulatory agency, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, which is part of the federal Department of Health and Ageing in Australia. She has also served as the chief medical officer and principal adviser for pharmaceutical benefits in the Australian government.

Dr. Marilyn Moon is an AIR Vice President and the Director of the Health program. She is a nationally recognized expert on Medicare and Medicaid, health reform, financing issues and consumer engagement.

Karen Pollitz is a Research Professor at the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University, where she conducts research on health insurance reform issues as they affect consumers and patients. She served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Legislation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 1993 to 1997.

Dr. Kristin Carman is co-director of Health Policy and Research at AIR. Her work has focused on consumer engagement issues and works with the California Health Care Foundation on helping employers inform their employees about evidence-based medicine.

Sandra Robinson is a senior research analyst in AIR’s Health Program. Her expertise includes qualitative research, product development, and analysis of data from focus groups, cognitive interviews, and in-depth interviews. Prior to joining AIR, she served as manager of information product development for the Oregon Health and Science University’s Eisenberg Clinical Decisions and Communications Science Center.

Event Information

July 29, 2009
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM ET