LRC News Release

LENOIR-RHYNE TO HOLD FORUM ON HEALTHCARE COSTS

Lenoir-Rhyne College will present a free, public forum on healthcare issues facing the nation and the Hickory Metro. The Healthcare Administration Forum will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 in the Belk Centrum, located at 628 7^th Ave. NE, Hickory.

This forum is part of a series called “Conversations for the Real World” that is sponsored by the Charles M. Snipes School of Business at Lenoir-Rhyne College with support from the Alex Lee Endowment. The forum will feature a panel discussion including Tony Rose, CEO of Catawba Valley Medical Center; Denny Bruns, CEO of Frye Regional Medical Center; Tom Fannin, director of compensation and benefits for Alex Lee Inc.; Garry Simmons, vice president of CIGNA Healthcare of North Carolina; Dr. Billy Price Jr., an internist in Hickory; and Michelle Roseman, executive director of Abernethy Laurels in Newton. U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry has also been invited. There will be opportunities for comments and questions from audience members.

The purpose of this forum is to look at major issues facing the healthcare system, such as cost, health status, access and financing. Specifically, the forum is designed to create a dialogue among healthcare consumers, professionals and those who finance healthcare.

The American healthcare system is full of contradictions. Spending in the United States on healthcare is among the highest in the world. America has one of the most technically sophisticated and capable health delivery systems in the world. Nevertheless, life expectancy of Americans ranked only 25^th among industrialized countries in 2002.

Americans also continue to suffer and die from healthcare problems caused or aggravated by poor lifestyle decisions. Many Americans also have limited access to the healthcare system and are faced with serious financial difficulties if they suffer from major health problems. In 2004, 45.8 million Americans (approximately 15.7 percent of the population) were uninsured. This figure continues to grow each year. For more information about this forum, contact Pam Deal at 828-328-7109 or dealp@lrc.edu.