Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger and a panel of experts will hold a free community health care forum from 3-5 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in 203 Rhatigan Student Center at Wichita State University.

The forum will include an in-depth look at how the state plans to implement a Health Insurance Exchange in line with federal health care reform legislation. The event is sponsored by the Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs at Wichita State University.

Kansas, through its insurance department, is one of seven states to share in a federal Health and Human Services' Early Innovator grant to create the exchanges. Praeger will discuss planning efforts to design and construct the exchange system, which could allow individuals and small business owners to purchase health insurance in a "one-stop" shop.

The federal planning grant is based on the state extending the redesigned state's Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program eligibility system and integrating it in conjunction with a private industry insurance exchange for the benefit of all Kansans.

In addition to Praeger, panelists include: Anne Nelson, associate executive director, Central Plains Regional Health Care Foundation; Robert St. Peter, president and CEO, Kansas Health Institute; and Tim Witsman, president, Wichita Independent Business Association.

For more information and to register, go to http://conta.cc/fSmdKo.