Released: March 3, 2010

Commissioner Jim Donelon announced details of the Louisiana Department of Insurance 2010 Annual Health Care Conference today. The annual Conference is being held March 23, 2010 at the Crown Plaza in Baton Rouge, 4728 Constitution Ave. Headlining the Conference is Retired Lt General Russel Honoré, who was the commanding general of Joint Task Force Katrina. Nicknamed the “Category 5 General,” Lt. General Honoré is an expert on emergency preparedness and responding to a catastrophe.

“I am very pleased to have Lt. General Honoré as the keynote speaker for the 2010 Health Care Conference. He is an expert in the field of crisis management and has a great deal of wisdom and experience to share with our conference attendees,” says Commissioner Donelon.

The annual conference will feature national experts discussing the possible reform measures being discussed in Washington that could forever alter the way health care is delivered at both a state and national level. Topics will include Louisiana’s private insurance market; the state’s health-care delivery system; a public-private partnership for long-term care; federal health-care reform; and public-private hospital partnerships. Also on the agenda is the implementation of the Long-Term Care Partnership program in Louisiana. This program has the potential to assist many consumers with the protection of assets as they incur health care expenses late in life. Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine is also among noted conference speakers.

LH&A Producers are eligible to earn up to six hours of continuing education credit by attending. For more information call the Department of Insurance at (225) 342-5075 or (225) 219-9343, or you may e-mail hcconference@ldi.state.la.us. Information can also be found on the website www.ldi.state.la.us by selecting 2010 Annual Health Care Conference. Questions regarding this press release can be directed to the Louisiana Department of Insurance Public Affairs Office at (225) 342-4950.