SAVE THIS DATE!

Saturday, September 15, 2007

8:30am - 3:30pm

Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church

in collaboration

with Western District Conference (MC USA )

is planning and hosting:

HEALTHCARE SUMMIT : Finding our Voice

To register on-line or to print-off registration form see left column

Healthcare affordability, quality and access affect all of us. Trends in the last five years all point to a worsening condition of the healthcare system in the United States . No matter your age or gender these trends affect you.

But, what can we do about it?

• HEALTHCARE SUMMIT : Finding our Voice is a grassroots congregational attempt—open to all churches of all denominations--to be pro-active in knowing and addressing local (rural Kansas ) issues of healthcare. Our primary goal is to raise awareness of the condition of Kansas health care accessibility, affordability and quality from a provider and consumer point of view.
• We want to name how faith communities and organizations can be advocates and helpers in their local communities in relation to healthcare access and affordability.
• We want to identify concrete action ideas and steps that help faithfully address what is perceived to be an impending local and national crisis.

Key Presenters include:

Ø      Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius (via video)

Ø      Kansas Secretary of the Department of Health and Environment Rodrick Bremby

Ø      Dr. John Jantz ( Cottonwood Pediatrics, Newton KS )

Ø      Dr. J. Wendell Wiens (retired surgeon serving Health Ministries in Newton , KS )

Ø      Jessie Kaye (President & CEO of Prairie View, Newton KS ).

Ø      WDC Conference Pastor Dorothy Nickel Friesen

Ø      Dr. Robert Kreider (Historian)

Workshops Topics will include:

Ø      Consumer rights and responsibilities in Health Care – Kevin Wiens (MMA)

Ø      Health Care Policy: How to speak to our government about Health Care – Christine Downey & Dorothy Zimmerman

Ø      Beginning to a Better Ending: Important conversations to have about your end-of-life wishes.  -- Carolyn Harrison (Kansas Health Ethics, Inc).

Ø      Gathering Ideas: Stories of effective congregational mutual aid – Rosie Goering (Faith Mennonite Church, Newton).

Ø      Health Reform in Kansas - Dr. Marcia Nielsen (Exectutive Director of the Kansas Health Policy Authority)  

SO. . . SAVE THIS DATE and REGISTER NOW

(see left margin)

Health Care in USA Facts

• The cost of healthcare in the USA is twice that of other developed countries, and yet the US ranks 22^nd in life expectancy (World Health Organization)
• Since 2000 5 million people have lost and are without health insurance. Currently a 45 million Americans do not have health insurance. 9 million children are among the uninsured.
• Since 2000, Health insurance costs went up 59%, while wages increased by only 12%. Companies offering healthcare benefits decreased from 69% to 60%.
• 50% of personal bankruptcies are related to medical bills.
• In 2005, the average cost of employer-sponsored insurance was $9,979 (www.mennoniteusa.org/healthcare)
• Although poverty is major factor, many middle income families are feeling the pressure of rising costs and decreasing benefits.
• The USA is the only industrialized country that does not provide basic healthcare to all citizens.
• $65-$130 billion estimated lost to the US economy due to the uninsured. $34-69 billion estimated cost of providing insurance to the uninsured (Institute of Medicine 2004)
• The Institute of Medicine reported that in 2005, 18,000 uninsured people died unnecessarily because they did not have adequate healthcare