MEDIA RELEASE

Dr. Bruce S. Anderson, President/CEO of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, will lead a discussion – and “listening session” — on urgent health care issues for North Hawaii at the 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 Waimea Community Association Town Meeting in Waimea School Cafeteria.

The discussion will cover a wide range of hot topics and critical community concerns, from the impact of new federal legislation and reduced reimbursements that directly impact individual coverage and costs, to concerns about long term care and assisted living options, to the cost and future of urgent, critical care and long term care services in rural neighbor island communities and how this will impact North Hawaii Community Hospital, Hale Hoola Hamakua and Kohala Hospital.

Speakers joining Anderson for the discussion include Jay Kreuzer, CEO, HHSC West Hawaii Region (Kona Community Medical Center and Kohala Community Hospital), Dr. Bill Park, CMO for NHCH, and Cathy Meyer-Uehara, administrator of Hale Hoola Hamakua.

“Healthcare is one of the fastest areas of rising cost and need; residents are urged to attend and participate in this discussion about what’s happening locally and nationally, how they will be impacted, and what they can do and be heard in terms of concerns and priorities,” said Sen. Malama Solomon, who is helping Waimea Community Association with coordinating this healthcare discussion.

There will be time for questions and answers.

Also on the agenda will be a brief update on the proposed County Impact Fee ordinance by Councilman Pete Hoffmann, a briefing on a Health Literacy Fair Nov. 12, 2011 in Waikoloa by Rep. Cindy Evans, and an update on Waimea’s coqui location and eradication efforts.

As always, all who attend WCA monthly Town Meetings are asked to help support local food pantries by bringing a donation – preferably cash, a check, KTA Sav-A-Tapes and/or Foodland Makai My Rewards – or non-perishable food items.

Cash or checks are given to Waimea’s Annunciation Catholic Church food pantry to purchase vegetables, fruit and milk as well as other essentials. Checks may be payable directly to a food pantry so the donation is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Also, as always, Starbucks Waimea will provide hot coffee for which the association suggests a small donation be made, again to support local food pantries.

For more information about Waimea Community Association, call President Sherman Warner (885-1725) or visit www.WaimeaTown.org