Career Development : Calendar

Florida health reporters gathering

11/13/07     Winter Park, FL

For the first time, Florida health reporters will gather to share tips, ideas and meet some of the state's top health regulators. The gathering, planned for Winter Park outside Orlando on Tuesday, Nov. 13, will also serve as an exploratory meeting to discuss the possible formation of an AHCJ Florida Chapter. All Florida health reporters are invited. You do not have to be an AHCJ member to attend. Seating is limited so please contact Phil Galewitz at pgalewitz@pbpost.com if interested in attending.

Reporters and editors who attend will come away with data and quotes for numerous stories, a better understanding of health-care finance and skills in using state databases.

Each session will be informal and there will be plenty of time for questions and answers. Space is limited, so registration is a must.

When

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Where

Winter Park Health Foundation
220 Edinburgh Drive
Winter Park, FL 32792
www.wphf.org
407-644-2300
Contact: Lisa Portelli

Organizers

Phil Galewitz, reporter at The Palm Beach Post, board member of Florida Health News, 561-820-4789, pgalewitz@pbpost.com.
Carol Gentry, reporter at Tampa Tribune, volunteer editor of Florida Health news, 813-259-7624, cgentry@tampatrib.com

Agenda

10 a.m.

Registration, coffee

10:15 a.m.

Welcome from host and organizers

10:30 a.m.

Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Meet Mary Beth Senkiewicz, Floridas new deputy commissioner for health, who will talk about the need for more consumer protection, dangers from out-of-state associations, initiatives for the uninsured, etc. Members of her staff will show how to find closed-claims files and data on insurers

11:30 a.m.

Kim Streit, vice president for health care research and information at Florida Hospital Association, will brief reporters on health-care financing and show common mistakes that trip up reporters.

12:30 p.m.

Working Lunch
Journalists talk about issues of common concern, such as difficulties in getting information from certain agencies and the possibility of forming a state chapter of the Association of Health Care Journalists.

1:45 p.m.

Break

2 p.m.

Dr. Andy Agwunobi, secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration, and directors of the divisions of health care quality, health statistics and Medicaid will talk about current initiatives and answer questions. Preview of the FloridaHealthFinder web site and instructions on its use.

3:30 p.m.

Wrap-up and depart

The meeting is being organized by Florida Health News which is sponsored by Florida Health Policy Center, a coalition of foundations dedicated to improving public understanding of health issues in the state. For more information, go to www.FloridaHealthPolicyCenter.org