By ELLEN KOLMAN - ekolman@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon
ASHTABULA —
The Profiles of Ashtabula County Breakfast Series kicked off Wednesday at Kent State University-Ashtabula with the topic of health care reform.
“I am proud to be here, kicking off your Profiles breakfasts,” said Oliver Henkel, chief government relations officer for the Cleveland Clinic. “Health care reform is a complicated subject, but we will work our way through it.”
Henkel stated that health care reform is a comprehensive social reform legislation that is historic, transformational and complex.
“The status quo is unacceptable. There are more than 50 million people who are uncovered by health insurance and many with inadequate coverage,” Henkel said. “Health care costs have gone up dramatically and, for many, have become unaffordable. Employers are dropping coverage, and co-pays are too high for those who have coverage.”
Health care reform will unfold over the next decade with the expectation that 32 million more people will be insured by 2014, Henkel said.
The Profile Breakfast Series features speakers from various sectors of the community, who will share ideas and experiences with the mission to help raise awareness of projects that affect everyone, and share strengths of the county.
“Health care reform is a complex topic, and he (Henkel) was able to break it down so we could better understand it,” said Susan Stocker, KSUA dean. “We are trying to focus on topics that focus on our county, topics that are positive and growth-oriented.”
Laura Jones, executive director for LEADERship Ashtabula County, was excited about supporting the first Profiles Breakfast.
“The topic today was very interesting to me because it is so relevant today;. The whole series is a real service to this community,” Jones said.
Casey Kozlowski, Pymatuning Valley Local School Board president and candidate for state representative, said the presentation was very informative and that it is important for everyone to learn about the aspects of the Health Care Reform bill.
“People need to be aware,” Kozlowski said.
The next Profile Breakfast in the 2010-11 series is Garrett Orminston of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, who will speak on the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Ashtabula County conservation work, at 8 a.m. Oct. 13. The cost is $8. For more information, call 440-964-4312.
