Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) announced Tuesday the schedule for a series of roundtables on the financial aspects of healthcare reform.
Policy and industry experts will gather with committee members throughout April and May to discuss healthcare reform issues as Congress works to hammer out the details of comprehensive healthcare legislation by June. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to play a key role in developing the legislation.
"These roundtables are designed to spark a dialogue on the healthcare solutions that Americans need now," said Baucus. "Working closely with my colleagues on the Finance Committee has been a priority throughout the health reform process. These roundtables are another opportunity for members to bring their ideas on healthcare reform to the table and to hear from experts about those ideas as the health reform process moves forward."
"There's a lot to fix and a lot to consider," Grassley said. "Congress should understand that every action to reform healthcare could have a reaction somewhere else. The experts can help us understand the complexities and challenges ahead."
The roundtable series will be open to the public and also available on the Finance Committee's website. Roundtables will be held April 21, May 5 and May 14. Topics will include reforming America's healthcare delivery system to improve quality and efficiency, increasing access to care and financing healthcare reform legislation.
A list of participants for each roundtable will be released prior to the discussion date. Congressional leaders have also said they will hold closed-door policy discussions in the days following each roundtable.
Photo obtained under Creative Commons license from Center for American Progress Action Fund.