Home Official News Releases Strong Interest in Gubernatorial Candidate Health Care Forum

Strong Interest in Gubernatorial Candidate Health Care Forum

CONTACT: Ann Black, AARP, 515-697-1003;
Caroline Adelman, NHPC, 404-285-0749


More than 400 Iowans have registered to hear the gubernatorial candidates discuss their plans for improving health care at a free issue forum from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, at Drake University. Congressman Jim Nussle and Secretary of State Chet Culver will each address the multi-generational audience at Drake’s Sheslow Auditorium, 2507 University Avenue.


Below is the schedule for the event:


2 p.m.: Welcome by Drake President David Maxwell
2:20 p.m.: Remarks from Republican Nussle
2:50 p.m.: Remarks from Democrat Culver
3:20 to 4 p.m.: Roundtable discussion moderated by Dean Borg of Iowa Public Television


The forum also will include speeches by Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health Mary Mincer Hansen, Iowa Care Givers Association Executive Director Di Findley and National Coalition on Health Care President Dr. Henry Simmons.


Among the issues the candidates will discuss is access for more than 250,000 uninsured Iowans and how they plan to improve the quality and safety of long-term care in Iowa. In addition, they will answer questions submitted by attendees to the event.


A panel of health care industry experts will follow the candidates’ presentations including Michael Abrams, executive vice president for the Iowa Medical Society; Donna Harvey, director of the Hawkeye Valley AAA; Mark Goldberg, senior vice president for policy and strategy for the National Coalition on Health Care; Roselee Yeaworth of the AARP National Policy Council, Ellen Gaucher, vice president for operations, quality and customer satisfaction at Wellmark Inc.


The non-partisan event, convened by the National Health Policy Council, the National Coalition on Health Care and AARP, is one of a series of similar events to be held across the country featuring key governor races.


The event is free to the public, courtesy of Allergan Inc., the national sponsor of the event. More information may be obtained at www.nhpcevents.org. Media may obtain credentials for the event through the Web site. The event will be broadcast live on Mediacom Connections Channel.