The Healthcare Organization’s Role in Formulating Public Policy

Panel Presentation:

The Healthcare Organization’s Role in Formulating Public Policy

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

St. Cloud Hospital Conference Center, Aspen Room

1406 6th Ave. N

St. Cloud, MN 56303

Moderator:

• Ben Peltier, Vice President, Legal Services and Federal Relations, Minnesota Hospital Association

Panelists:

• Lawrence “Lorry” Massa, President & CEO, Minnesota Hospital Association


• Carl Vaagenes, CEO, Douglas County Hospital


• David Borgert, Vice President, Government Relations, CentraCare

*1.5 ACHE Face to Face Education Credits

Agenda:

11:00 – 11:30 AM – Lunch, Networking, and Registration

11:30 – 1:00 PM – Presentation and Q&A

Learning Objectives:

1. 1.      How can your organization advocate on issues that clearly affect your community and healthcare providers?


2. 2.      Identify the importance of the involvement of healthcare leaders in public policy issues

Society’s most critical issues confront healthcare organizations daily. From access to the uninsured, patient safety, and reimbursement policies of government and commercial payers, healthcare organizations must address myriad issues. Join ACHE-MN as a panel of Minnesota healthcare executives discuss getting involved with public policy in order to impact healthcare at the federal, state, and local levels.

Moderator:

Ben Peltier is the Vice President of Legal and Federal Affairs for the Minnesota Hospital Association.  Ben is an experienced hospital attorney who has served as an in-house attorney for a large Minnesota health system and legal counsel to hospitals and physicians while in private practice at a Washington, DC law firm. Early in his career, Ben managed health care policy issues for U.S. Representative John Boehner of Ohio. During his time on Boehner’s staff, Ben worked on a variety of health reform topics including Medicare reform, HIPAA, and health insurance regulation. Ben received his law degree from George Mason University in Virginia and studied economics as an undergrad at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. 

Panelists: 

Lawrence “Lorry” Massa became president and CEO of the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) in October 2008, continuing a 25-year career as a prominent hospital and health-care leader in the Upper Midwest. Massa most recently led Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, Minnesota. There, he acted as CEO of the municipal organization for almost 15 years.  During his tenure, he oversaw the completion of a $52 million renovation and expansion project. Before that role, Massa gained more than 10 years of for-profit and nonprofit health-care executive experience in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. He also served as South Dakota’s secretary of health under

Governor William J. Janklow.

Mr. Massa is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of South Dakota and a Master’s of Science in Business administrative services from Iowa State University.

Carl P. Vaagenes has been a Healthcare Executive for over 28 years.  Since May of 2011, he has served as CEO of Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria, MN.  Previously, he served as CEO of Unity Family Healthcare in Little Falls, MN; Pipestone County Hospital in Pipestone, MN; and, Cheyenne County Hospital in Cheyenne Wells, CO.

Mr. Vaagenes received his Bachelor of Arts degrees from Concordia College in business administration and hospital administration.  He currently serves on the Minnesota Hospital Association Board of Directors as the immediate past chairperson.  He has also served as past chairperson on the Minnesota Hospital Association Policy and Advocacy Committee; Past delegate to the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board; and is also on the Alexandria Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee.

David J. Borgert  As CentraCare Health’s Director of Community & Government Relations he maintains relationships with local, state and federal officials and provides leadership and research support for public policy development for CentraCare. David is active in public policy development with several local and regional organizations including the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota Hospital Association, Catholic Health Association of Minnesota, Minnesota Rural Health Association and Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

David is a lifetime resident of Central Minnesota. A graduate of St. John’s University (BS) and the University of St. Thomas (MBA), he is also an experienced volunteer leader of not-for-profit organizations in the region. David is a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, the St. Cloud Technical & Community College Foundation and the Stearns-Benton Workforce Council where he is also a member of the Joint Powers Board with Commissioners of Stearns & Benton Counties.

Parking:

Participants should park on the North side parking and enter through the North entrance.  The conference center is located on the “C” level and accessed by the East elevators on level A or B.  Reception desk at the North entrance can assist with directions.

$25 – ACHE Members

$50 – Non Members