Obama convenes healthcare summit

Healthcare is the message of the day at the White House -- and if President Obama succeeds in an overhaul that helps many of the 47 million Americans without insurance -- could be one of his signature achievements.

Obama is convening a summit this afternoon with about 150 elected officials and representatives of groups that have much at stake in the outcome -- and that helped kill the last attempt at an overhaul during the Clinton administration 16 years ago.

"The Forum will bring together the people who have a stake in our health care system and the people who have the ability to change it; those who worked to pass health care reform a decade ago and those who worked to defeat it," the White House says in a background paper.

"Learning the lessons of past efforts, the President is starting by bringing diverse and bipartisan stakeholders together for a substantive and transparent discussion consistent with the principles he has laid out," the background paper says. "Participants will be asked to work together and offer up ideas to bring down costs and increase coverage for all Americans. The President will ask for the best ideas and the best ways to make reform happen. While the people around the table – Republicans, Democrats, insurance companies, labor, doctors and patient advocates – may not agree on everything, having them around the table is a critical, but first step in this process."

While some skeptics say healthcare is too heavy a lift during a deepening recession, Obama argues that the skyrocketing medical costs make reform essential to the recovery. In his proposed budget, he set aside $634 billion over 10 years for an initiative that many analysts say will cost more than $1 trillion.

The president plans to make opening remarks at about 1 p.m. Then, the participants will break into small groups for discussion. Obama plans to make closing remarks about 4 p.m.

UPDATE: The White House released a list of attendees, which is below. It includes several "everyday" Americans who took part in house meetings and other gatherings to discuss healthcar.

Members of Congress Expected to Attend

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) – Assistant Majority Leader
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) – Chairman, HELP Committee
Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) – Ranking Member, HELP Committee
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) – Chairman, Finance Committee
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) – Ranking Member, Finance Committee
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) – Chairman, Health Subcommittee of the Finance
Committee
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) – Ranking Member, Health Subcommittee (Finance
Committee)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) – Chairman, Appropriations Subcommittee on Health Care
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) – Ranking Member, Appropriations Subcommittee on Health Care
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT)
Sen. Robert Bennett (R-UT)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH)

Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) – House Majority Leader
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) – Republican Whip
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) – Vice Chair of Democratic Caucus
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) – Chairman, Energy & Commerce Committee
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) – Ranking Member, Energy & Commerce Committee
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) – Chairman, Ways and Means Committee
Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) – Ranking Member, Ways and Means Committee
Rep. George Miller (D-CA) – Chairman, Education and Labor Committee
Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) – Ranking Member, Education and Labor Committee
Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) – Chairman Emeritus of Energy & Commerce Committee
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) – Chairman, Health Subcommittee for Energy &
Commerce
Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) – Ranking Member, Health Subcommittee for Energy & Commerce
Rep. Pete Stark (by phone) (D-CA) – Chairman, Health Subcommittee of Ways and Means
Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA) – Ranking Member, Health Subcommittee, Ways and
Means
Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ) – Chair, Education & Labor Subcommittee on Health, Labor, et al.
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)
Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA)
Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND)
Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI)
Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA)
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX)
Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA)
Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)
Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN)
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)

Community Leaders and Stakeholders Expected to Attend

(in alphabetical order by organization name)

AARP, Bill Novelli, President
ADAPT, Bobby Coward
AFL-CIO, Gerry Shea, Assistant to the President for Governmental Affairs
AFSCME, Gerry McEntee, President
AFT, Randy Weingarten, President
AIDS Action Rebecca Haag President and CEO
Alliance for Retired Americans, Ed Coyle, Executive Director
America’s Health Insurance Plans, Karen Ignani, President and CEO
American Cancer Society, Daniel Smith, President
American College of Physicians, Jeff Harris, President
American Academy of Pediatrics, David Tayloe, President
American College of Cardiology, W. Douglas Weaver, President
American Academy of Family Physicians, Ted Epperly, President
American Diabetes Association, Larry Hausner, CEO
American Heart Association, Timothy J. Gardner, President
American Hospital Association, Rich Umbdenstock, President
American Medical Association, Nancy Nielsen, President
American Nurses Association, Rebecca Patton, President
Asian and Pacific Islander Health Forum, Dr. Ho Tran, Executive Director
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, Jeff Caballero, Executive Director
Building and Construction Trades Department, Mark Ayers, President
Better Health Care Together, Jody Hoffman, Executive Director
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Scott Serota, CEO
Campaign for America's Future, Roger Hickey, Founder and Co-Director
Campaign for Mental Health Reform, William Emmett, Director
Catholic Health Association, Sister Carol Keehan, President and CEO
CCD Health Task Force, Peter Thomas
CED, Charlie Kolb, CEO
Center for American Progress, John Podesta, President and CEO
Change to Win, Anna Burger, Chair
Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman, Founding President
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Irwin E. Redlener, M.D.
Communications Workers of America, Larry Cohen, President
Families USA, Ron Pollack, President
Federation of American Hospitals, Chip Kahn, President
General Mills, Ken Powell, President and CEO
Health Care for America Now, Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager
Hispanic Medical Association, Elena Rios, President
Human Rights Campaign, Joe Solmonese, President
Jennings Policy Strategies Group, Inc, Chris Jennings, President
League of United Latin American Citizens, Brent Wilkes, Executive Director
Markle Foundation, Zoe Baird, President
National Association of Counties, Valerie Brown, Incoming NACO Chair
National Association of Manufacturers, John Engler, President and CEO
National Association of People with AIDS, Frank Oldham, President and CEO
National Association of Community Health Centers, Tom Van Coverden, President and CEO
National Council of La Raza, Janet Murguia, President and CEO
National Jewish Hospital, Dr. Michael Salem, President
National Congress of American Indians, Jacqueline L. Johnson Pata, Executive Director
National Federation of Independent Businesses, Dan Danner, President
National Indian Health Board, Stacey Bohlen, Executive Director
National Medical Association, Mohammad Akhter, Executive Director
National Partnership for Women and Families, Debra Ness, President
National Business Group on Health, Helen Darling, President
National Association of Children's Hospitals, Larry McAndrews, President and CEO
National Association of Public Hospitals, Larry Gage, President
National Rural Health Association, Dennis Berens, President
National Coalition on Health Care, Henry Simmons, Founder
National Association for Home Care & Hospice, Val Halamandaris, President
National Women's Law Center, Marcia Greenberger, President
National Minority AIDS Council, Paul Kawata, President
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Rea Carey, President
National Hispanic Health Alliance, Dr. Jane Delgado, President
National Education Association, Dennis Van Roekel, President
Pfizer, Jeffrey Kindler, CEO
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Billy Tauzin, President and CEO
Physicians for a National Health Plan, Dr. Oliver Fein, Director
PICO, Scott Hersey Reed, Executive Director
Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Cecile Richards, President
Racial and Ethnic Disparities Health Coalition, Fredette West, President
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, President and CEO
SEIU, Dennis Rivera, Chair
SEIU, Andy Stern, President
Small Business Majority, John Arensmeyer, Founder and CEO
Teamsters, Jim Hoffa, President
Trust for America's Health, Jeff Levi, Executive Director
UAW, Ronald Gettelfinger, President
UFCW, Joe Hansen, President
University of Chicago Medical School, Eric Whitaker, Executive Vice President For Strategic Affiliations
University of Miami, Donna Shalala, President
USW, Leo Gerard, President
US Chamber, Tom Donohue, President

Travis Ulerick is a 24-year old firefighter from Dublin, Indiana. He started out as a firefighter and first responder for the volunteer fire department on June 28, 2000. When the fire department became the sole EMS provider for the southwestern portion of Wayne County in 2007, Ulerick was one of the four crew members hired to work full-time on the department's ambulance. He graduated from nearby Lincoln High School, and is currently a senior at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Travis hosted a health care community discussion with other local first responders, doctors, and everyday Americans in January in the bay of Dublin’s fire station. Recently HHS staff followed Travis around his job, and he will be featured in an upcoming video on the new healthreform.gov website. *NOTE: Travis Ulerick will introduce the President at the opening session.

Julia Denton is a 52-year old Republican from Yorktown, Virginia. Her husband is an active duty Air Force dentist with more than 23 years service. Julia currently devotes her time to caretaking and advocacy on behalf of her son Matthew, who was born with a rare genetic disorder resulting in multiple disabilities. Although Julia was a volunteer for the McCain/Palin campaign during the general election, she is now committed to the Obama health plan. She hosted a health care community discussion in December and since has continued to support the health reform effort.

Siavash Sarlati is a 24-year old Iranian-born, American citizen, and a medical student at the University of Wisconsin. After completing high school, he pursued a degree in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating with honors. Siavash is currently a second-year medical student at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and he hopes to pursue a Masters in Public Health. Siavash hosted a health care community discussion in December. He is interested in doing his residency in an under-served urban area.

Yvonne Rubie is a 57-year old from Brooklyn, New York. She is an active volunteer at House of the Lord Church, where she hosted a health care community discussion in December. Yvonne has a master’s degree in public health and uses her skills to promote health and wellness through health fairs, church discussions, and information sessions on diabetes. In an effort to continue the community discussion, she is in the process of planning an event in May focusing on elder care. Yvonne is committed to improving health care at both the national and local level.

James Stoffer is a 54-year old teacher and small-business owner from Delafield, Wisconsin. As the owner of a malt shop, James is all too familiar with the high costs of insurance. Although his family has a history of cancer, he cannot afford the checkups due to cost. He spoke about insurance being an obstacle to fulfilling his lifelong dream of owning his own business and fears that the current system limits other entrepreneurs.

Jose Oliva is a 63-year old Mexican-born, United States Citizen from El Paso, Texas. Jose works as a Customs and Border Protection Officer along the Texas-Mexico border. He is a veteran who served in the United States Air Force from May 1965 through May 1969, and all his higher education costs were paid through the GI bill and part-time employment. Jose and his wife have been married for 38 years and have four grown children. In December, Jose hosted a health care community discussion, where group participants discussed challenges to people in impoverished areas of the country. Jose believes that the biggest challenge in reforming health care is by improving access to all Americans.

Angela Diggs is a 42-year old Washington D.C. native, who is the administrator of the Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center, which is a partnership of the District of Columbia Office on Aging and Providence Hospital’s Wellness Institute. The center provides health and wellness classes for seniors on D.C.’s southwest side. In December, Angela helped organize a health care community discussion.