Healthcare to be subject of GHCC meeting

GAINESVILLE - The growing healthcare crisis and how it impacts the business community will be the subject of a meeting in Gainesville later this month.

Access to healthcare, increasing healthcare costs, limited services, tort reform and state legislative action will be the issues discussed during the meeting.

"The rising costs of healthcare is having a major negative impact upon the business community in our state," said Hall County businessman and Chamber Board member Doug Carter. "Civil justice reform, which is strongly supported by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, provides needed changes to help bring the costs under control and assist businesses of Georgia to remain competitive."

Sponsors for the Healthcare Crisis & Your Business Breakfast include the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, The Longstreet Clinic and the Hall County Medical Society. Featured speakers are George Israel , President & CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce; Kinn Elliott , Director of Government Relations for the Medical Association of Georgia and representatives from the Northeast Georgia Medical Center and The Longstreet Clinic.

The Chairman of the Greater Hall Chamber's Healthcare Task Force Mimi Collins of The Longstreet Clinic, said, "Gainesville and Hall County are fortunate to have an excellent healthcare system that contributes to our communities economic development and our citizens quality of life.

"Although we may believe our healthcare communities are immune from the the malpractice crisis we hear about across the country, it is not. Our community is experiencing many of the same issues as a result of this crisis. It is important that our business community and local leadership becomes engaged at a state and federal level in this topic."

"This breakfast will provide an opportunity for local businesses to give feedback on issues related to providing healthcare to their employees," said LeTrell Simpson, Vice President of Corporate Development, Northeast Georgia Health Services. "It will also be an opportunity to provide input into the growing dilemma of how providers and the community will assure the care of those not covered by insurance. The issues are complicated and need widespread input from the business community."

The healthcare seminar and breakfast is aimed at the Greater Hall County business community and will be Wednesday, January 21 from 7:30