CHT Monthly Newsletter
November 2009
Leading Large Scale Change
CHT Concludes 2009 Meeting Series in Naples, FL
From left: CHT Founder Newt Gingrich, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Julie Gerberding, M.D., former FDA Commissioner and CHT Senior Advisor Andrew von Eschenbach, M.D., and General Pete Taylor
On November 5, CHT hosted its final member meeting of 2009, “Leading Large Scale Change,” in Naples, FL. The day kicked off with opening remarks from CHT President and CEO Nancy Desmond who reviewed CHT’s Top 12 Successes of 2009. Following Desmond’s presentation, Ben Leedle, CEO of Healthways, introduced Dan Buettner, author of the book, Blue Zones, a bestseller focusing on a select number of communities where there are an unusual number of residents age 100 or older.
Before breaking for lunch, meeting participants heard from former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Julie Gerberding, M.D., former FDA Commissioner and CHT Senior Advisor Andrew von Eschenbach, M.D., CHT Founder Newt Gingrich and retired Army General Pete Taylor who discussed the art of leading large scale change.
Following a networking lunch and book signing with Blue Zones author Dan Buettner, members heard from Frank Luntz, President of Luntz Research Companies and author of What Americans Really Want . . . Really. Luntz discussed ways to successfully influence health reform proposals before Congress, noting that the public should demand additional town hall meetings before House and Senate votes. He also said efforts should be made to protect the rights of those who have health insurance coverage.
The final presentation of the day was led by CHT Founder and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Gingrich gave a wrap-up of the latest news to come out of the negotiations concerning health care negotiations on Capitol Hill, including a prediction that the House would vote on Saturday November 7 while the Senate would likely not vote on the issue until 2010.
Gingrich, Crist Tackle Florida’s Health Future
Jim Frogue and Newt Gingrich sign copies of "Stop Paying the Crooks."
CHT also hosted the official book launch and signing for Stop Paying the Crooks: Solutions to End the Fraud That Threatens Your Healthcare, a book that takes an in-depth look at fraud in America’s healthcare system while providing key strategies to bring these schemes to an end. Stop Paying the Crooks was edited by CHT Vice President and Director of State Policy Jim Frogue and contains a foreword by CHT Founder Newt Gingrich. The book has contributions from 17 authors with backgrounds in the healthcare, credit card and health IT industries.
For more information on Stop Paying the Crooks and CHT’s Fifth Annual Medicaid Summit, please visit our website.
CHT Welcomes von Eschenbach
 This month Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was named a Senior Advisor with the Center for Health Transformation. As a Senior Advisor, von Eschenbach will lead the 21st Century FDA Modernization Project.
"I am energized about the role CHT can play in catalyzing major change not just in the United States, but also globally,” said von Eschenbach. “There is a real opportunity to reduce risk and cost to the industry in exchange for a more rational pricing schedule for drugs coming into the market.”
Von Eschenbach, who previously served as Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will also be actively involved in CHT’s Eliminating Cancer as a Cause of Death and Suffering Project and the Alzheimer’s Solutions Project.
CHT Launches Payment Reform Working Group
Gingrich and Daschle to Participate
On September 18, CHT announced the launch of a payment reform work group whose goal is to identify effective models that will realign payment and delivery of care incentives to achieve better health outcomes and higher quality, appropriate care. CHT Founder Newt Gingrich and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle will participate in the working group which will create a set of specific recommendations to deliver this fall to the commercial market as well as national and state policy leaders.
“This is one of the most critical components to successful health reform efforts,” said CHT VP Julie Eckstein who will be leading CHT’s payment reform efforts. “We must find a way to achieve better health at a lower cost. Both can be achieved with appropriate alignment of incentives in our payment process.”
The payment reform group held its first meeting on September 18 at the Four Seasons in Washington, D.C. A follow up meeting is scheduled for October 27 with a location to be determined.
To learn more about this exciting new project and to receive updates, please visit our website.
CHT in the News
CHT Founder Newt Gingrich discussed health reform on “Meet the Press” on September 13
CHT was busy leading the national dialogue on health reform in September. In fact, CHT published a total of 13 op-eds and participated in 22 public speaking engagements last month.
Highlights include the September 10 piece, “More Government Health Care Would Hurt Doctors” written by CHT founder Newt Gingrich and CHT President and CEO Nancy Desmond, which ran in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch; “Reassembling Humpty Dumpty” written by Newt Gingrich and CHT VP, Director of National Health Policy David Merritt which ran in POLITICO; “States' Results Prove the Benefits of Malpractice Reform” written by Newt Gingrich and CHT VP Wayne Oliver which ran in the Kansas City Star; and, “Forget Alzheimer's Funding, Forget Everything” by Newt Gingrich and Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Solutions Project Michelle Stein, which was written in honor of World Alzheimer’s Day. The piece ran in 13 publications including USA Today, Dallas Morning News and the Boston Herald.
CHT staff also participated in various speaking engagements, including radio interviews and TV appearances. On September 12, David Merritt participated in a healthcare town hall meeting with RNC Chairman Michael Steele in Orlando, FL, and on September 13 Newt Gingrich discussed health reform on "Meet the Press." On September 17, Jim Frogue also discussed Stop Paying the Crooks on “On the Record with Greta Van Susteran.”
To view a complete list of CHT's op-eds and speaking engagements, please visit our website.
Congratulations to Oliver, Eckstein and Ross!
Congratulations to CHT staff members Wayne Oliver, Julie Eckstein and Rynnie Ross on their recent promotions.
 Wayne Oliver who currently leads CHT's 21st Century Pharmacy Project, Health Justice Project, and Right to Know Project, has been promoted to Vice President. Through his new role, Mr. Oliver will work closely with Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach on the 21st Century FDA Modernization Project.
 Julie Eckstein leads CHT's efforts in St. Louis and runs the Missouri Project. Through her new role as Vice President, Ms. Eckstein will also lead CHT’s Payment Reform Working Group.
 Rynnie Ross who began with CHT in 2008 will be expanding her role as she assumes the position of Project Manager. In this capacity, Ms. Ross will help manage and track ongoing and newly initiated CHT projects. She will also serve as the key liaison for CHT’s Senior Advisor Dr. Andy von Eschenbach.
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