Daniel Lanahan

 

"Our Health Care System: Best Or Worst?

What Can Be Done? What Should be Done?"

 

 

January 10, 2010

 

 

The health care system in the United States is sometimes called the best in the world, but the numbers don't add up that way. It is immensely complex and costly, and everyone agrees that change is needed. But that seems to be the extent of the agreement. Very soon we may have a major change to the system that will impact every American.

Dan Lanahan will provide an update on the changes being considered by Congress. He will also lay out the roots of our present health care dysfunction. Where are we in the actual rendering of health care? How the system changed with Medicare. The connection between medical financial payments and the rendering of services, and how to consider both matters separately. Why our system is not integrated for best results, and the use of technology - too much vs not enough? The politics of health care decisions. Is prioritization rationing? What about the public option? What are insurance pools?

Mr. Lanahan is the co-founder of Lanahan & Reilley LLP, a law firm headquartered in Santa Rosa. He also has an extensive involvement in the health care system. In the 1990's he was Chairman of the company that operated Baycare, the principal primary care physicians group, including thousands of specialists, operating in San Francisco and the peninsula. In 2000 he joined the Board of Directors of Memorial Hospital, becoming Chairman in 2004. The name changed while he was Chair to St. Joseph Health System - Sonoma County.

He left the Board in 2006, but still serves on the board of the Foundation. He was also President of Concern America, which sends doctors, nurses, sanitation engineers, literacy experts and others to many poor countries in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia. Before practicing law he spent 10 years in the insurance business and has a good understanding of that side of the health care industry.