On Thursday, January 15, researchers from The Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) will present a new survey of the American public on their health care priorities for President-elect Obama and the new Congress. Bleak economic conditions and the arrival of a new presidential administration and Congress have caused a flurry of federal policy discussion and activity since the November elections. Congress is poised to begin debate on an economic stimulus package which is likely to include some health care provisions and all signs indicate that there will be robust health care debates, on the reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and more comprehensive reform of the health care system.

Researchers at the Foundation and HSPH designed and analyzed the survey of public opinion on key health care issues policymakers are likely to confront in the coming year. What issues are the public’s top policy priorities? Which economic priorities does the public prefer to fight the recession? What do Americans most want in health reform legislation? Are there areas of public consensus in health care? These questions and many others will be addressed at the press event releasing the full poll results.

Thursday, January 15, Barbara Jordan Conference Center, 1330 G Street, NW, Washington, DC

9:15 am Registration and Breakfast

9:30 am Introduction and Presentations

Drew Altman, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Kaiser Family Foundation

Mollyann Brodie, Ph.D., Vice President and Director, Public Opinion and Survey Research, Kaiser Family Foundation

Robert Blendon , Sc.D., Professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis, Harvard School of Public Health

10:15 am Questions and Discussion

10:45 am Adjourn

RSVP to Tiffany Ford Fields at tford@kff.org.