Released: February 20, 2008

Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon, Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine, Blue Cross Blue Shield of LA head Gery Barry and the chairmen of the Senate and House Insurance Committees are just a few of the participants in Friday’s 9 a.m. meeting of the Louisiana Health Care Commission (LHCC).

LHCC Chairwoman Donna Fraiche will introduce the panel’s new members: Senate Committee on Insurance Chairman Donald Cravins, Jr.; Gordon Natal, Jr. of the LA State Nurses Association; and Karen Reiners Winfrey, who was recently named Deputy Commissioner of Health for the Department of Insurance. Fraiche will also give a federal health insurance update.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine is slated to give a report on the agency. Alison Jones, Executive Director of the LHCC and legislative coordinator for the Department of Insurance will update the Commission on the Department’s 2008 legislative package.

Gery Barry, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana will give a report on the Coalition of Leaders for Louisiana Health Care.

Other legislators in attendance will include House Insurance Committee Chairman Chuck Kleckley, Senate Health & Welfare Chairwoman Willie Mount and House Health & Welfare Chairwoman Kay Kellogg Katz.

The meeting is open to the public.