Herb Schultz, Regional Director at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Region IX, briefed members of the medical community and others on the upcoming healthcare reform initiatives and answered questions at Hilo Medical Center Friday (Sept 3).

Schultz was recently appointed by President Barack Obama to the position for Region IX which oversees Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, the territories of American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, and Guam, as well as the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau. In this role, he serves as HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ key representative in the Region.

A number of the changes for healthcare go into effect on September 23, 2010 are part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.