(Hazleton, PA) Local organizers have booked the 350-seat J.J. Ferrara Center in downtown Hazleton, Pennsylvania for a health care “town hall” meeting to be held Saturday, August 29 starting at 1:00 p.m.
The town hall features four speakers, including two physicians, a health care consultant and researcher, and an international human rights advocate to discuss proposed health care reform and answer audience questions.
The program will be moderated by Wilkes-Barre physician Frank Schell, M.D., who will also speak on particular aspects of proposed House bill HR 3200 regarding “appropriate care” and how the proposed legislation will affect physicians’ decisions and quality of patient care.
Dr. Schell is director of the Emergency Department and chairman of the Department of Medicine at Mid-Valley Hospital, Peckville, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Trauma Society and past president of the Wyoming County Medical Society as well as a member of the Luzerne County Medical Society.
In addition to Dr. Schell, Hazleton surgeon Frank Polidora, M.D. will speak and be among the panelists answering questions. Dr. Polidora is an orthopedic surgeon in private practice since 1981 in the Hazleton area, specializing in trauma, total joint replacements, and arthroscopies. Trained at University of Pennsylvania Medical School, he is board certified in orthopedic surgery by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
The program also features Mr. Greg Scandlen, director of Consumers for Health Care Choices (CHCC) at The Heartland Institute. Scandlen organized CHCC in 2005 after nearly 30 years in health care policy and financing, including 12 years in the Blue Cross Blue Shield system and five years as founder and executive director of the Council for Affordable Health Insurance. He is one of the nation’s foremost experts on consumer-driven health care, insurance regulation, and programs for the uninsured.
Also speaking will be Mr. Raymond de Souza, program director for all Portuguese speaking countries for Human Life International, a worldwide organization that promotes human rights. De Souza has traveled extensively abroad to 21 countries, residing in seven of them: Brazil, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, France, and the United States. His experience abroad gives him a unique perspective into socialized medicine in countries where universal health care exists. He will discuss how universal health care impacts medical care decisions particularly in countries where assisted suicide is legal.
Congressman Paul Kanjorski (PA District 11) and Congressman Tim Holden (PA District 17) were invited to attend or send staff representatives to address constituent concerns, but both congressmen (and their staffs) were unable to attend, according to John Colicigno, event organizer.
For more information, contact John Colicigno, 570-455-1625 or Ken Skuba, 570-956-7663.
