Pacific Islanders and Health Care Reform: Access and Coverage

This webinar focused on access and coverage issues. Dr. Garth Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Minority Health, provided welcome remarks. Herb Schultz, Director of the Region IX office, opened the webinar with an overview of the Department of Health and Human Services, the role of the Region IX office, and key benefits of health care reform. James Mason, Senior Advisor to the Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, gave a summary of the Office’s outreach and ongoing implementation work with the Pacific Island territories. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Director of Coverage Policy in HHS’ Office of Health Reform discussed the timeline for Health Insurance Exchanges. Gloria Nagle, Associate Regional Administrator for Medicaid with CMS, Region IX reviewed Medicaid expansion. Herb Schultz closed the webinar with a few remarks on the law’s prevention, workforce development, and cost containment provisions.