For those who are unsure about how health care reform may affect them or aren’t aware of the new health care reform, the Baker Center will host a panel answering questions on the health care reform law on Aug. 31. 

Discussion will begin with a brief synopsis of the recent national health care overhaul, followed by more specific details on the provisions in the package pertaining to individuals without insurance, those relying on Medicare or Medicaid, and persons with employer-based coverage. 

Both Carole Myers, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing, and Beth Uselton, a key leader of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, will share their perspectives on the changes to the health care system. 

“The goal of Beth Uselton, who is my partner for the presentation, and I is to do three things: provide factual, non-partisan information about key provisions of the health reform law that passed earlier this year, describe the impact of the law of key constituencies and respond to questions from attendees at the forum,” Myers said. 

While the health care reform package may be a lot of information to cover in one session, the panelists recognized the importance of adapting the information to the individuals that will be attending. 

“We have planned as much time for questions and answers as we have for our presentations,” Myers said. “It is a priority of ours to be responsive to those who attend the forum and answer appropriate questions.” 

The event has been tailored to be an interactive discussion rather than a traditional lecture. 

“The Tuesday health care forum is an excellent opportunity for the public to better understand the new health care law,” Dr. Michael R. Caudle, director of the health policy program at the Baker Center, said. “The focus is on explaining the legislation, not debating the merits of its passage. We plan on devoting more than an hour to answering questions.” 

Organizers have designed this event as an opportunity to look into the future of the America’s health care system, unencumbered by political bias. 

“The forum on Aug. 31 is a public one,” Myers said. “I hope to see attendees of all ages and circumstances. … As citizens, we must be engaged in policy-making, and we need to transcend the partisanship and promotion of self-interests that is causing so much division and rancor in our country. I think this is a great opportunity for students to learn about how health care reform affects them and participate in policy-making.” 

Both of the participating panelists will draw upon lots of experience in order to clarify the complexities of health care reform. 

“Last November, one of my colleagues, Paul Erwin from the Department of Public Health, and I were asked by the University of Tennessee chapters of the American Medical Student Association and Amnesty International to do a program on health care reform especially tailored to students,” Myers said. 

Myers is anxious to sort through the health care plan in a neutral setting, addressing fact instead of opinion. 

“Beyond the complexity of health and health care, people are confused by all the partisan rhetoric and intentional or unintentional representations of what the law includes and what is does not include,” Myers said. “Some of the confusion is related to the legislative maneuvering and political posturing that surrounded the consideration and passage of the bill. Since the bill became law, the debate has continued and is intensifying as we head into the mid-term elections. I truly think people yearn for information that is not politicized. I think they truly want to know what the bill means for them and the country.” 

Providing faculty, students and the Knoxville community with this information will be a difficult task. 

“The health care bill is over a thousand pages long. People are still digesting what is included,” Myers said. “More important is the fact that the law only provides a framework. The devil is in the details. These details are still being determined, and then they must be implemented. The translation of the law’s intent to programs and plan provisions we will see as end-users of health care is the most critical phase, and this has not occurred for most of the terms of the new law.” 

Students have already demonstrated their desire to partake in the historic decisions involved in restructuring health care. “I especially appreciated how earnest and engaged the student planners and attendees were,” Myers said. “The students were concerned about bills then being discussed and how they would affect them personally, but they were also interested and articulate about health care reform in a more general sense, because of its significant impact on the well-being of the country. Students were also concerned about the plight of others who are less fortunate than them.” Attendees were concerned not only for the future of their health care, but expressed a fervent concern for the welfare of others. “Many of the students seemed genuinely motivated to address the needs of the uninsured and reorder our priorities regarding health care,” Myers said. “The students got it about the value of preventative care, screening and primary care. I walked away from the presentation impressed with the intelligence and compassion of the students in the attendance.” The evening should satisfy the congregation of curious citizens who will make it a point to attend. 

“There are so many reasons why there is confusion about the new health care plan,” Myers said. “Some are attributable to the nature of the beast.

Health care is inherently complex. Health care is big, representing almost 18 percent of our country’s GDP. “Health care is also highly personal. Each of us has different cultural and other meanings associated with what health is and what health care should entail. Humans are extraordinarily complicated. We all experience illness and define wellness differently. We don’t all respond to treatment the same.”