Kansas Health Institute | Information For Policy Makers. Health for Kansans.

Families USA founder Ron Pollack, a leading advocate of federal health reform, will be the keynote speaker at an upcoming health care forum organized by the Kansas City Chamber.

The forum is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon on Sept. 15 at the Liberty Memorial, 100 W. 26th St. in Kansas City, Mo.

Families USA is a national group that represents the interests of health care consumers. It has been in existence 25 years and has been a leading proponent of health reform.

Two panel discussions also are scheduled. They will focus on the ramifications of health reform for small businesses and what the new law will mean for workforce issues in the health care industry.

Small business

The small business panel begins at 9:30 a.m. and will include these participants:

-Moderator Karen Zecy, president of American Micro Co.

-Ron Rowe, manager of marketing communications, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City

-Kathy Pickering, vice president of The Tax Institute, H&R Block

-Carolyn Watley, president, CBIZ

-Keith Wisdom, chief financial officer for United Healthcare

-Matthew Condon, chief executive of the Athletic & Rehabilitation Center

Workforce

The workforce panel meets at 10:45 a.m. and will include:

-Moderator Clyde McQueen, chief executive of the Full Employment Council

-John W. Bluford, chief executive, Truman Medical Centers

-Betty Freeman-Boots, vice president of human resources, John Knox Village

-Michael Dunaway, senior vice president, Kansas City Metropolitan Healthcare Council

-Lori Mallory, chief executive of Kansas City Internal Medicine

-Marlene Nagel, director of community development, Mid-America Regional Council (MARC)

The event is co-sponsored by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, the Full Employment Council, and the Kansas City Metropolitan Healthcare Council.

Register online for the event at www.kcchamber.com