Tom Boyer, director of government affairs with Novo Nordisk Inc., will present "Health Insurance Reform vs. Healthcare Reform: A Brief Overview of How Political Debate is Shaping America's Health System for the Next Several Decades" on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m. at Hope College in the Maas Center conference room.
Tom Boyer, director of government affairs with Novo Nordisk Inc., will present "Health Insurance Reform vs. Healthcare Reform: A Brief Overview of How Political Debate is Shaping America's Health System for the Next Several Decades" on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m. at Hope College in the Maas Center conference room.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
A question-and-answer session following his presentation will consider topics including: how the health reform debate in Washington, D.C., among policymakers is progressing; the key differences between "health insurance reform" and "healthcare reform"; what makes some form of health insurance and healthcare reform vital to everyone's economic self-interest; the prospect of health insurance and healthcare reform before mid-term elections; what key features of "health insurance reform" will likely remain within any plan passed by Congress; and the price of failure for Democrat and Republican elected officials vs. the price of success for Democrat and Republican office holders.
Boyer, who graduated from Hope in 1991 with a major in political science, has more than 18 years of professional experience in health care government relations activities focused on diabetes. Prior to his current role with Novo Nordisk Inc., he served as executive director of the Diabetes Care Coalition.He also represented the American Diabetes Association in legislative and public relations efforts. His work secured coverage for diabetes therapies by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance programs. Working directly with the diabetes community, he crafted the supporting program materials that helped convince President Bill Clinton and Speaker Newt Gingrich of the need to improve diabetes coverage for the Medicare population. More recently, he worked with members of Congress and the Bush Administration to draft legislation that provides coverage for diabetes needs in a prescription drug program for America's senior citizens.
The event is sponsored by the college's department of political science.
The Maas Center is located at 264 Columbia Ave., on Columbia Avenue at 11th Street.