Discussion on Affordable Care Act is April 10

April 03, 2014

Discussion on Affordable Care Act is April 10

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A policy analyst with the Missouri Foundation for Health will discuss specifics within the Affordable Care Act next week at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. 

Thomas McAuliffe will present “The Affordable Care Act:  Understanding the Possibilities and Limitations of Health Care Policy.”  The program begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, in the Student Services Building Room 150.  McAuliffe’s presentation starts at 7 p.m., and a question-and-answer session will follow. 

The event is free and open to the public. 

McAuliffe is the guest speaker for the SIU Master of Public Administration (MPA) program’s Public Policy Speaker Series.  The series was created to present talks on relevant topics in the field of public administration.  It is also an opportunity for current students to network with alumni and professionals from the local area.  

“This year’s topic is especially relevant given controversy surrounding the recent implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and we are excited to have McAuliffe at the event,” Randy Burnside, an associate professor in political science and MPA program director, said.   “He’ll provide those attending a better understanding of the law and its future impact on businesses and citizens.  The department is especially excited to host this year’s event in the new Student Services Building.”  

McAuliffe joined Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) in 2005 after serving as the government relations associate for United Way of Greater St. Louis. As policy analyst he is responsible for coordinating and communicating about MFH’s work related to health policy research, evaluation and analysis. He has a master’s degree in political science from Purdue University and is pursuing a doctorate in public administration and political science. He has also served as a lecturer at Webster University in St. Louis. 

The nationally accredited SIU Masters of Public Administration Program provides concentrations in aviation administration, museum administration and nonprofit management.  Since 1974, it has trained students in the development of skills and techniques managers need to implement policies, projects, and programs that resolve important societal problems while addressing organizational, human resource and budgetary challenges.