Wrap-Up: 2013 Florida Health Care Affordability Summit - Day 2

ORLANDO, Fla. --(Business Wire)--

Key health care industry leaders, innovators and lawmakers gathered today at the World Center Marriott in Orlando, Fla., to conclude the panel discussions at the 2013 Florida Health Care Affordability Summit. The Summit, a sold out event hosted by the Foundation of Associated Industries of Florida (FAIF), has brought together some of the most instrumental decision makers and thought leaders to discuss the areas of critical-need for Florida's health care landscape.

On day two of the Summit, panelists engaged in discussions to address 'health care solutions from the private sector,' moderated by Tarren Bragdon, president and CEO of the Foundation for Government Accountability, 'modernizing Florida's health care delivery system,' moderated by Representative Matt Hudson (R-Naples), 'encouraging innovation in product development and distribution,' moderated by Representative Richard Corcoran (R-New Port Richey), as well as 'increasing access to care, choice and competition throughout Florida,' moderated by Senator Denise Grimsley (R-Sebring).

Participating in today's discussions were the following panelists:

J.D. Kleinke - Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Shannon Wedekind - Pharmacy Supervisor, Walgreen Co.
Kevin Kuhlman - Manager of Legislative Affairs, National Federation of Independent Business
Chris Day - Head of Business Development & Marketing, Aetna
Josue Rodas - Executive Director, Regional Extension Center, University of Central Florida
Geeta Nayyar, M.D. - Chief Medical Information Officer, AT&T (News - Alert)
David E. Young - Vice President for TelePsych Services, Optum Health Specialty Networks
Michael Perry, M.D. - Medical Director, Laser Spine Institute
Rose M. Naff - Chief Executive Officer, Florida Health Choices, Inc.
Holli Ploog - Vice President, CGI (News - Alert) Government Markets
Jonathan C. Anderson - Vice President of Sales Strategy, Distribution & Integration for Employer Markets, Florida Blue
John McFadden, Ph.D. - Interim Dean, College of Health Sciences, Barr University
Kenneth Boyle, O.D. - Doctor of Optometry, Brevard Vision Center
Christopher Saslo, ARNP - Associate Chief Nurse for Clinical Practice, West Palm Beach VA Medical Center

"Affordability, above all else, is critical to increasing patient access to proper care," said Representative Hudson, chair of the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee. "This event was a great conversation starter on the issues that need our attention the most, and I want to thank the Foundation of AIF for bringing us all together. We've heard many different perspectives at the Summit, and what's going to help make our system better and stronger is to have a wide, divergent approach and a lot of different ideas to come up with not just one solution, but a basket of solutions to tackle the affordability issue in Florida. As we head back to Tallahassee next week, I am encouraged to see so many participants already engaged in discussing options and opportunities when it comes to the future of Florida's health care."

"More and more, we are seeing a shift in the health care industry to incorporate and rely on mobile solutions to provide and augment patient care," said Dr. Nayyar, panelist on the 'Modernizing Florida's Health Care Delivery' panel. "In the digital era we live in, we must foster innovation and allow technology to provide patients with access points to care, as a means to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs."

"It is imperative that we continue to properly prepare the next generation of health care leaders by taking the lead on addressing the challenges to our health care system as it stands today," said Dr. McFadden, a panelist on the 'Increasing Health Care Access, Choice and Competition throughout Florida' panel. "Health care curricula and practice is continuously evolving, and we must focus on being able to transfer and promote that evolutionary process into our health care products and health professions curricula, so we can be better equipped to meet the unique needs of our patients."

Closing out the FAIF's Health Care Affordability Summit was Marcus Osborne, vice president of health and wellness payer relations for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., with a keynote address on the effect of business initiatives on increasing access, quality and affordability of health care.

"We are grateful for the participation of our sponsors, honorable guests and highly-qualified and distinguished panelists for helping us execute this great event," said Tom Feeney, president and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida. "We also want to thank members of the media and the public for taking an interest in the health care dialogue that took place throughout the Summit, and for helping make this event such a success. As the leading advocates for the business community, AIF looks forward to taking the ideas and discussions we heard over the last two days and turning them into tangible solutions that will help improve the access and affordability of health care for the people of Florida."

Sponsors of the FAIF's 2013 Florida Health Care Affordability Summit include Aetna, Ashford University, AT&T, AvMed Health Plans, Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Florida Blue, Florida Optometrists Health Fund, Health Management Associates, Humana, Laser Spine Institute, Sunshine State Health Plan, Tenet Healthcare Corporation, UnitedHealth Group, Walgreens, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and WellCare Health Plans.

For more information on the FAIF's 2013 Health Care Affordability Summit and its participants, please visit www.healthcareflorida.com. You can also 'like' us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @HealthCareFL.