Representative Ann Kirkpatrick officially announced the launch of her nonpartisan advisory committee to counsel her on health insurance reform on February 5, 2010, continuing her efforts to make the voices of Greater Arizonans heard as the debate on this issue moves forward.
Rep. Kirkpatrick established this advisory board so that stakeholders in Arizona can share their experiences with Congress as the reforms are enacted. Many critical reforms will not take effect for some time after the legislation is passed, providing time to help ensure they work for Arizona. Hospitals, health care providers, business owners and working families will have the opportunity to identify where our goals have been met and where adjustments have to be made, and the committee will be able to take what they have learned and push for any necessary changes.
“Effective health insurance reform is not about what happens in Washington – it is about what happens here in our communities. The Members of Congress who are making the policy have a responsibility to seek out the folks who will actually implement it,” said Rep. Kirkpatrick. “The advisory board will allow people on all sides of the issue to bring their ideas and suggestions to the table.”
The advisory board includes health care professionals, members of the business and labor community, elected officials and others from across District One who represent a range of opinions on the best path to reform. Together, they will provide a broad-based, balanced view of how the various proposals under consideration will affect Greater Arizona, and who would be able to offer valuable feedback on the progress and challenges of reform.
The following people are serving on the advisory board:
Dr. William Austin is a longtime pediatrician in Flagstaff.
Tim Barnett serves as president and chief executive officer of the Yavapai Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Wayne Bennett owns and operates the Bennett Clinic, and has long served the Tri-Cities area as a chiropractor.
Dr. Jim Carter is a general and interventional cardiologist and co-founder of Mountain Heart Cardiology in Flagstaff.
Dave Crawford is the president and chief operating officer of Sundt Construction.
Olivia Guerrero is the president of the Pinal-Gila Council for Senior Citizens.
Karen Holder is a nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife at North Country HealthCare’s Flagstaff clinic. She is currently the president of the Northern Arizona Nurse Practitioner Group.
Jim Ledbetter is a business owner and attorney in Cottonwood. He is the vice-chair of Northern Arizona Health Care and a past chairman for the Verde Valley Medical Center.
Molly McGovern is the political director for SEIU (Service Employees International Union) Arizona.
Kevin Nestrick is the president and chief executive officer of Altius Health Care and a resident of Prescott.
Dr. Beth Purdy is an orthopedic hand surgeon and is affiliated with the Orthopedic Clinic Association. She currently serves as the president of the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA).
Travis Robinette is the executive director of SunLife Community Health Center, based in Pinal County.
Ann Roggenbuck is the president and chief executive officer for North Country HealthCare, which operates clinics across Greater Arizona.
Mayor Fernando Shipley is the mayor of Globe.
Beverly Stepp is the executive director of the Pinetop-Lakeside Chamber of Commerce.
Jennifer Wesselholf is the president and chief executive officer of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce.
Chris Wolf is chief executive officer of the Payson Regional Hospital.
Michael Zimmerman is the chief executive officer of the White Mountain Regional Medical Center.
