Influential Iowa health care associations participate in upcoming Presidential candidate forums in Iowa on health care 

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On May 7th, Democratic presidential candidates will have the opportunity to share their views on health care with eight Iowa health care associations and the general public during the 2007 Presidential Candidate Forums on Health Care.

The following Iowa health care associations are supporting these forums and will be providing health care-related background for the Iowa media panelists who will be posing questions to the candidates; the Iowa Assisted Living Association, Iowa Nurses Association, Iowa Nurse Practitioners Society, Iowa Nurse Practitioners Association, Iowa Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Iowa Oncology Research Association, Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association, and the Iowa Pharmacy Association.

"The next president will address a host of issues that will dramatically affect patients and health care providers," said Phil Schneider, president of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation, co-sponsor of the forum. "With so many important health care issues facing voters, the presidential forums provide the perfect opportunity for candidates to share their views on health care before an audience of key health care constituencies: pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and, most importantly, patients."

Two forums will be held at the Des Moines Area Community College on 2006 South Ankeny Boulevard in Ankeny, IA. The Democratic candidate forum is scheduled for Monday, May 7th from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. and the date for the Republican candidate forum is pending.

Dean Borg, of Iowa Press, will be serving as the moderator of the forums. Forum questions will be delivered by media panelists Jeneane Beck of KUNI Radio, O. Kay Henderson of Radio Iowa, and Tony Leys of the Des Moines Register.

The forums are sponsored by two pharmacy foundations, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation (501c3) and the National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation (501c3). Support for the forums is provided by the Coalition for Community Pharmacy Action (CCPA).