Health Reform Dialogue at “What’s Up” League Event in Northfield

Health Reform in Minnesota, and the questions voters should be asking candidates, is the hot topic at the “What’s Up” event on Monday, October 15^th, 7:00 p.m. at the Hideaway Coffee House and Wine Bar on Division Street in downtown Northfield. Three persons with experience and knowledge about the need and possible solutions for reforming health care in Minnesota will speak and answer questions. The event is free and the public is invited to learn more prior to the November election about reforming the health care system. Stop by to become better informed; or to hone your health-reform questions; or just to have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

Charlie Mandile (MPH), Executive Director of Healthfinders Collaborative, will discuss the challenges of providing comprehensive and individualized access to health and wellness opportunities for the uninsured or underinsured in central Minnesota. Healthfinders is a community-based nonprofit that serves people in Rice County.

Anna Odegaard MPP), a health policy specialist at SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, will describe the health insurance exchange being developed in MN as part of the 2010 federal Affordable Care Act. The purpose of the exchange is to make high quality health insurance more accessible and affordable to persons not insured through their employer. SEIU Healthcare Minnesota is a healthcare workers union.

Amy Lange (RN, MS, CNM), a Policy Fellow on Health Care at Growth and Justice, will discuss the benefits a single-payer health plan could offer Minnesotans. Lange authored “Beyond the Affordable Care Act: An Economic Analysis of a Unified System of Health Care for Minnesota,” released in March of this year. Growth and Justice is a progressive think tank.

The Northfield/Cannon Falls League of Women Voters is part of the national League of Women Voters. The League is a nonpartisan organization which studies and then takes positions on public policy issues.