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Topic 2008: Health Technology Assessment and Health Care for All
With the U.S. presidential election only a few months away, comprehensive health care coverage for all is one of the top domestic policy issues. Rising costs put pressure on individual citizens, employers, insurance companies, and state and federal government. Individual states such as Massachusetts and California recently introduced new mechanisms to provide coverage for all or are poised to do so. This creates new opportunities but also new challenges. Expanding the number of consumers will significantly increase the market for providers of services and products. At the same time, any system that mandates universal coverage must develop mechanisms that assure long-term financial sustainability. As a result the benefits and costs of drugs, services, and procedures draw close scrutiny. In Germany and elsewhere in Europe this trend has fully unfolded; in the United States it is accelerating.
To discuss experiences and best practices in healthcare policy, we have rcruited an impressive array of speakers. They will share the most up-to-date information and outline opportunities and challenges ahead. Key topics include:
• What structures are most conducive to ensuring everyone can access high-quality health care?
• How is evidence-based medicine being used in the USA and in Germany?
• Where is health technology assessment going? What are the issues?
• What are the new regulations on benefits in the U.S. Medicare/Medicaid system and with private providers vs. regulations in Germany?
• What’s new in the healthcare markets in the USA and Germany?
• The role of minute clinics and other new dynamic structures for consumers
• Payment policies
• Perspectives for the future: where should we go and why?
The first day’s speakers address broad policy issues. Day 2 focuses on HTA and mechanisms that regulate coverage, quality, and costs.
Trans-Atlantic Experts' Roundtable 2008 Program
Day 1
American & German Healthcare 2008: Health Care for All: New Approaches to Structures and Financing—Policy Perspectives in the United States and Germany*
University of Minnesota
Monday, May 19, 2008
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
McNamara Alumni Center
A.I. Johnson Great Room
| 8:00 | Registration and coffee |
| 8:30 | Welcome—Dr. Sabine Engel, director, Center for German & European Studies audio |
| 8:35 | Opening Remarks— Meredith McQuaid, Associate Vice President and Dean for International Programs, University of Minnesota system audio |
| 8:50 | Keynote Addresses—Toward the Greater Public Good "Healthcare Reform in Germany—Access, Quality, Sustainability" Franz Knieps, Director General, Healthcare Provision and Long-Term Care Insurance, Federal Ministry of Health, Berlin audio "Massachusetts' Health Reform: Progress and Prognosis" Bob Carey, Director of Planning and Development, Massachusetts Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority, Boston audio slides |
| 9:45 | Moderated Q&A with previous speakers. Moderator: Dr. Daniel Zismer, Associate Professor and Director, ISP Executive Study Programs in Health Care Administration and Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota audio |
| 10:15-10:45 | coffee break |
| 10:45 | Health Care for All: Creating Effective and Dynamic Structures Two panels with US and German experts representing insurers, industry, patients, and providers Panel 1: Position Statements "We Know What to Do; It's Time to Do it!" Frank B. Cerra, M.D., Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota audio "How Does the new Institute Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) Work?" Peter Sawicki, M.D., Director, Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), Cologne audio slides "The German Health Care System at the Crossroads: More Centralization and/or Competition?" Dr. Thomas Werner, Senior Vice President, GlaxoSmithKline; board member, VFA (German Association of Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies) audio |
| 11:25-12:10 | Moderated Panel discussion and Q & A with Panel 1 speakers. Moderator: Dr. Daniel Zismer audio |
| 12:10-12:50 | Panel 2: Position Statements "Health Care Reform: Minnesota’s Perspective" Cal R. Ludeman, Commissioner, State of Minnesota, Dept. of Human Services audio slides "Reform Directions for Publicly-funded Healthcare in the US and UK" Simon Stevens, Chief Executive Officer, Ovations audio "Convenient Care Clinics: Evolution vs. Revolution" Joshua Riff, M.D. , Medical Director, Target Clinics audio slides |
| 12:50-1:30 | Moderated Panel discussion and Q & A with Panel 2 speakers. Moderator: Dr. Daniel Zismer audio pt. 1 audio pt. 2 |
| 1:30 | Reception and Buffet Lunch |
| 3:00 | Event closes |
| 6:00 | dinner and evening program for conference participants |
All conference sessions will be audio-recorded. CGES in cooperation with Twin Cities Public Television will also produce a DVD with videotaped interviews with conference presenters and attendees for subsequent broadcast on public television. Interviews will be conducted on May 19. CGES will mail a DVD with the program to all registered participants and to other experts in the healthcare industry. This will ensure broad sharing of the discussion's results among private and public decision makers in both the United States and Germany.
Day 2
Health Technology Assessment for Pharmaceuticals in the United States and Germany—Best Practices *
University of Minnesota
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
McNamara Alumni Center
A.I. Johnson Great Room
| 8:00 | Registration and coffee |
| 8:30 | Welcome—Dr. Sabine Engel, director, Center for German & European Studies |
| 8:35 | Keynote Address—Dr. Juergen Wasem, Alfried Krupp von Bohlen and Halbach-Foundation Professor for Health Care Management, Dept. of Economics, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany audio pt. 1 audio pt. 2 slides |
| 9:15 | Position Statements "Harry Potter and the Quest for Value in Health Care: Conjuring Technology Assessment within the Innovation Ecosystem" Dr. Steven Sheingold, director, Division of Health Financing Policy, US Dept. of Health and Human Services audio slides "HTA from a Legal Perspective: Participation in Reimbursement Decisions" Dr. Christian Dierks, M.D., Dierks + Bohle Rechtsanwaelte, Berlin; President, German Society for Medical Law audio pt. 1 audio pt. 2 slides |
| 10:00-10:30 | coffee break |
| 10:30 | Moderated Q&A with previous speakers. Moderator: Dr. Stephen Schondelmeyer, director, PRIME Institute, University of Minnesota audio |
| 11:15 | Trends in the US and German Markets for Pharmaceuticals, Specialty Drugs, and Devices "Trends: German Markets for Pharmaceuticals, Specialty Drugs, and Devices" Ulrich Dietz, head, Reimbursement of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Health, Federal Republic of Germany, Berlin audio slides "The Role of Evidence-based Medicine and Specialty Drugs in Employer Health Benefit Plans and Medication Therapy Management" Dr. Stephen Schondelmeyer, director, PRIME Institute, University of Minnesota audio slides discussion |
| 11:45 | Position Statements "Specialty Pharmaceuticals: The Need for Proof of Value" Dr. Henry Blissenbach, president, Osprey Enterprises, Inc. audio slides "Current and Future Issues in Specialty Pharmacy" Dr. Tony Zappa, director, Specialty/Infusion Operations and IS/IT Fairview Pharmacy Services LLC audio slides "New Trends in Medical Devices" Dr. Nina Graves, epilepsy program director, Medtronic Neuromodulation audio slides "The Value of Access to Pharmacy Claims Data for Healthcare Market Analyses" Dr. Martin Schulz, managing director, Department of Medicine, ABDA-Federal Union of German Associations of Pharmacists audio slides |
| 12:30 | Discussion and Q&A. Moderator: Dr. Juergen Wasem, Dept. of Economics, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany audio |
| 1:45 | Concluding remarks |
| 2:00 | Lunch |
| 3:00 | Farewell |
* Program subject to change. Please check this website for any updates.
How to Register?
You can register for the 2008 "American & German Healthcare" forum by mail, fax, or online via a secure website.
Registration Fees
| Standard Rate | $850 | early registration by March 15: $750 |
| State/Government Employees | $150 | |
| U of M faculty/staff rate | $150 (excl. social) |
Standard registration fee covers post-conference documentation, two lunches, one special conference dinner with evening program, and non-alcoholic beverages. Register by March 15 and save. Reduced faculty/staff fee does not include conference dinner and evening program. To include, add $50. Registration fees may be paid by check, credit card, or wire transfer.
Partial and full registration scholarships are available to experts from non-profit organizations involved in healthcare and to elected and appointed public officials. To request consideration for these scholarships, send an email that states your position, affiliation, and rationale for request.
Refund Policy: A refund, minus $150 will be issued if you cancel in writing to cges attn. Anna Burger by April 15. Cancellations after this date are not eligible for refund. However, your registration may be transferred to another name.
Deadline for registration: May 15, 2008
Hotel Arrangements
The conference hotel is the 5-star Marquette Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. A limited number of rooms has been reserved for conference participants at a special conference rate of $196/night plus tax. To avail yourself of the special conference rate, please mention the code "American & German Healthcare group." Room reservations can be made by calling the hotel at 612-376-7400 or toll-free at 1-800-328-4782. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All room reservations at the conference rate must be made by April 18, 2008.
The Marquette Hotel
710 Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55402
612-333-4545
1-612-376-7400 (room reservations at conference rate)
1-800-328-4782 (toll free)