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A message from our President EVENTS

July 9
8:30 – 10:00 am
New Member Breakfast

Keep Your Eyes on Washington! 4:00 - 6:30 pm
July 10
Provider Spotlight

There are two major issues that the might be, most all agree that the debt we now July 24
12:00 - 2:00 pm
Congress will have to deal with in the have is too high. Academic Talks
coming months. First, the Medicare Things to keep in mind as we enter these
Trustees “now project that the Hospital debates are that Congress must either adhere August 9
Educational Roundtable
Insurance Trust Fund will be depleted by to the pay-as-you-go rule or sequester is a real
(Participant Only Event)
2026.” The reasons for this result are that possibility where the military and social pro-
spending is greater than revenue due to grams will be reduced to meet the deficit tar- August 14
HIT Educational Event
the growth in enrollment, both an gets.

increase of and intensity of the use of Some other suggestions that are being dis- September 4
services, and the rise in health care prices. cussed are to raise the Medicare eligibility age 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Also impacting the sustainability of this to match Social Security (65 to 67), employ Networking Event

trust fund is the fact that the demograph- means testing for Medicare to have the high- September 11
ics in the U.S. are changing. At the very income beneficiaries pay more, reduce the 4:00 - 6:30 pm
time that we have an increasing number schedule of benefits so that Medicare pays for Provider Spotlight

of Americans becoming eligible to receive fewer services (end of life care is prominently
September 25
Medicare benefits, the number of work- Jaime Caldwell mentioned), and reduce Medigap coverage, to 12:00 - 2:00 pm
ers paying into the trust fund is on the name a few. The last suggestion recognizes Academic Talks

decline. In the 80’s there were four workers contributing to the that beneficiaries have no restriction on seeking medical care,
November 4
trust fund for every beneficiary. That ratio has declined so that especially when they have first dollar coverage. 27th Annual Golf Tournament
today, only three workers are contributing for every beneficiary In an election year, this is going to prove to be a very bitter Lago Mar Country Club
and it is estimated that by 2027, there will only be 2.5 workers debate. We have the notion of “Medicare for All” being dis-
November 7
for every beneficiary. We have an issue. cussed by many of the Democratic candidates and no one is 4:00 - 6:30 pm
Coupled with this good news, we also have a growing going to want to talk about reducing Medicare, especially for Provider Spotlight
national deficit. We have a national debt of about $21 trillion. those beneficiaries who vote!
November 20
Based on the most recent estimates, “the debt is anticipated to Healthcare it is a changin’ and we get to live it. Watch the
12:00 - 2:00 pm
increase by approximately $1.5 trillion in the next 10 years as upcoming debates because the things they will be discussing Academic Talks
a result of the 2018 tax reform bill alone.” Well, while there is will impact you! Whether you are getting ready to retire or just
December 5
no research showing what the optimal amount of national debt beginning your career, stay interested. Have an opinion.
5:30 – 8:30 pm
Annual Meeting & Dinner

2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS SFHHA COMMITTEES
CHAIRMAN: David Wagner, Kindred South Florida Market CEO
VICE CHAIR: Mark Doyle, Chief Executive Officer, Memorial Hospital Pembroke
SECRETARY: William "Bill" Duquette, Chief Executive Officer, Homestead Hospital, Baptist Health South Florida
TREASURER: Charles Felix, Publisher, South Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report Education Committee
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR: Lincoln Mendez, Chief Executive Officer, South Miami Hospital
AT-LARGE: Ben Riestra, Chief Administrative Officer, UHealth’s Lennar Foundation Medical Center
AT-LARGE: Joel Wherley, Chief Operating Officer, VITAS Healthcare Finance and Management Committee
AT-LARGE: Maria Currier, Partner, Holland & Knight, LLP
Doug Bartel, MBA Patricia Greenberg Jared Smith
Sr. Director of Business Development, Media President Chief Executive Officer Health Information Technology Committee
and External Relations National Healthcare Associates Broward Health Coral Springs
Florida Blue
Ralph A. Marrinson, NHA, FACHA Patrick Taylor, MD Marketing and Public Relations Committee
Wael Barsoum, M.D. President Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer Marrinson Group Holy Cross Hospital
Cleveland Clinic Hospital
Charles Michelson Steven Ullmann Membership Committee
Kevin Conn Partner Director
Regional Vice President of Operations Saltz Michelson Architects University of Miami Health Policy
HEALTHSOUTH Corporation Management Quality and Patient Safety Committee
Aristides (Ardy) Pallin
Darcy Davis Chief Operating Officer Ana M. Viamonte Ros, M.D.
Chief Executive Officer Catholic Health Services Medical Director for Palliative Care
Health Care District of Palm Beach County and Bioethics Safety and Security Committee
Michael Roffelson
Michael Gittelman Chief Executive Officer, HEALTHSOUTH Baptist Health South Florida

Chief Executive Officer Rehabilitation Hospital – Sunrise
University of Miami Hospital and Clinics Jonathan Watkins
Chief Executive Officer
Broward Health Imperial Point

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com July 2019 5