EO MEDIA GROUP - John Kitzhaber

Former Gov. John Kitzhaber is scheduled to speak on health care reform Jan. 6 both at the Portland City Club and the Salem City Club.

The panel discussions mark the fourth and fifth times the former governor and physician will have stepped into the spotlight since the FBI and IRS launched an investigation in early 2015 into allegations his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes, used his position to win consulting work.

In March, Kitzhaber told Oregon Public Broadcasting that he was reentering public life with a new Facebook page, where he has posted videos and statements about his opinions on various topics, ranging from the corporate sales tax proposal in Measure 97 to Donald Trump’s election as president Nov. 8.

Kitzhaber is scheduled to appear at noon with two other panelists to discuss “Policy and Impact: Healthcare Reform in Oregon” at the Salem City Club at 11:30 a.m. at the Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill. The event is the eighth in an ongoing series by Salem City Club on health care reform.

“Who better than former Governor John Kitzhaber, M.D, to give the background of policy development and implementation with Jesse O’Brien, Policy Director of Oregon State Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG), and Dean Andretta, CFO of WVP Health Authority, reporting on how those policies have played out in practice for Oregon consumers, providers, insurers, and taxpayers?” the Salem City Club press release on the event states. “With the future uncertain for ‘Obamacare’, our panel participants will share their thoughts about what ‘repeal and replace’ could mean to Oregonians with respect to our own healthcare access, affordability and outcomes.”

Register onlineby noon Jan. 4 or call 503-370-2808.

The Portland City Club event at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 6 in downtown Portland will feature Kitzhaber and former Democratic Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley who will discuss Oregon’s and Maryland’s different approaches to delivering health care and how that can inform national health care reform. A Portland City Club advisory states that details – including an exact location were still being arranged Wednesday morning.