FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jen VanSkiver
Chief Communications Officer
(616) 560-3658
NOCHS TO HOST CONGRESSMAN HOEKSTRA & WEST MICHIGAN HOSPITAL CEOs
FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM ROUNDTABLE
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2009 -- Grand Haven, Mich. – North Ottawa Community Health System today announced that it will host and participate in a hospital administrator roundtable facilitated by Congressman Pete Hoekstra, Thursday, August 6, from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. A brief tour of the facility will follow, schedules permitting.
In addition to NOCHS, CEOs and government relations leadership from hospitals throughout the second congressional district of Michigan (from Wexford County down to Allegan County) have been invited to attend the meeting to discuss the House Health Care Reform Proposal.
During the last weeks of July, the United States House of Representatives considered the Democratic health care proposal in the three House committees with jurisdiction. The administration and majority party had hoped to vote on the health care bill, in the full House, before the August District Work Period. However, due to several majority party concerns, the House will not vote on a health care proposal before September.
Congressman Hoekstra is using this time before the September vote to reach out to constituents in his district and generate open dialogue about the current bill as well as any concerns hospitals may have with the legislation. He will also share his perspectives on the bill and review timelines for the vote.
Although this is a closed meeting, Congressman Hoekstra, NOCHS officials and other meeting participants will make themselves available to members of the media following the session, should there be any inquiries.
Congressman Hoekstra represents Michigan’s Second Congressional District in Washington. Prior to his election to Congress, he worked for 15 years at Zeeland, Mich.-based office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller Inc., where he held the title of Vice President of Marketing. He lives in Holland, Michigan, with his wife, Diane, and has three children, Erin, Allison and Bryan.
North Ottawa Community Health System includes an 81-bed hospital, 84-bed long-term care facility, home healthcare and durable medical equipment services, retail pharmacy, urgent care center as well as physician practices in primary care and OB/GYN. It also includes North Ottawa County’s first in-patient Hospice facility, which is also the only West Michigan Hospice facility that accepts Medicare/Medicaid patients. NOCHS is among the lakeshore’s major employers with more than 750 employees.
###