WASHINGTON - January 23 - Families USA is hosting its annual Health Action conference at the Mayflower Hotel (1127 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC) on January 25-27, 2006. The three-day conference will bring together more than 700 grassroots health care leaders from over 40 states. Participants will attend workshops and plenary sessions where they will share information, innovative strategies, and tactics to improve the affordability and quality of health care in America.

This year we will feature our first ever “Radio Row,” featuring noted syndicated and regional radio personalities from across the country. The radio shows that will be broadcasting live from the lobby of the Mayflower hotel are:

Sam Greenfield and Armstrong Williams, The WWRL Morning Show; The Marc Bernier Show; Howard Monroe and the Morning Show; The Ken Pittman Show; WDAY "Hot Talk" with Chris Hennen; The Thom Hartmann Show; Doug Stephan's "Good Day"; Greenstone Media; "A Touch of Grey" with Carole Mars, The Peter B. Collins Show, The John Elliott Show; The Bill Press Show; The Young Turks; "All Things New York" with Rennie Bishop; The Mike Newcombe Show; The Guy James Show; The Leslie Marshall Show; American Urban Radio Network; and Talk Radio News Service.

Key sessions that are open and likely to be of interest to the press are:

Thursday, January 25

Opening Plenary: A senator who is known for his dazzling oratory and a prominent academic will explore the changes in health care, and where healthcare reform may be headed.
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Chinese/Grand Ballroom (Camera crew set-up: 8:00 a.m.)
Senator Barack Obama (IL)
Uwe Reinhardt, Princeton University

Luncheon Plenary Address: Senator Smith accepts the Health Care Heroes Award and shares his thoughts on Medicaid and children’s healthcare. 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Chinese/Grand Ballroom (Camera crew set-up: 11:30 p.m., Senator Smith is scheduled to speak at 1 p.m.)
Senator Gordon Smith (OR)
The Campaign for Children’s Health Care “When an Apple A Day Isn’t
Enough” national essay contest grand prize winners are presented

Afternoon Plenary: Senator Sherrod Brown, one of the leading voices on health care in the U.S. Senate will address conference participants.
2:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Chinese/Grand Ballroom (Camera crew set-up: 1:15 p.m.)
Senator Sherrod Brown (OH)

Friday, January 26

Morning Plenary: Prospects for building on the framework of the SCHIP program to make sure more vulnerable Americans have access to health care.
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Chinese/Grand Ballroom (Camera crew set-up at 8:00 a.m.)
Senator Edward Kennedy (MA)

Awards Luncheon: The annual “Consumer Health Advocate of the Year” awards are presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions on behalf of our nation’s health care consumers. 12:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Chinese/Grand Ballroom (Camera crew set-up at 11:30 p.m.)
Anne Dunkelberg, Center for Public Policy Priorities
Anton Gunn, South Carolina Fair Share
Vincent DeMarco, Maryland Citizens Health Initiative

Afternoon Plenary: The Outlook for Medicare 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Chinese/Grand Ballroom (Camera crew set-up at 1:30 p.m.)
Bruce Vladeck, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
(UMDNJ) Tricia Neuman, Medicare Policy Project, Kaiser Family > Foundation

Special Presentation: The Global Health Connection
The Struggle to improve health care in the U.S. can leave us little time or energy to think about desperate problems elsewhere. A prominent expert will talk about the social, economic, and human impact of the so called “neglected diseases” and what we can do to help. Presentation will be followed by the film, A Closer Walk, about eh devastating impact of HIV/AIDS around the world.
5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. East Room (Camera crew set-up at 4:45 p.m.)
Peter Hoetz, George Washington University

Saturday, January 27

Plenary: Cutbacks to the TennCare program in Tennessee resulted in thousands of people going without their much needed care. Filmmaker Julie Winokur shows her documentary film ‘Collateral Damage’ about teh effects of those cutbacks followed by a discussion.
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. State/East Rooms (Camera crew set-up at 8:00 a.m.)
Julie Winokur, Talking Eyes Media

Plenary: Understanding how the public views the health care issue can determine how we frame our message 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. State/East Rooms (Camera crew set-up at 8:45 a.m.)
Celinda Lake, Lake Research Partners (by video)
David Mermin, Lake Research Partners

Luncheon: Closing Plenary
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Chinese/Grand Ballroom (Camera crew set-up at 11:30 p.m.) > Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, national

For a more detailed conference agenda and other information on Health Action 2007 visit our Web site at http://www.familiesusa.org/conferenceagenda

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