(Washington, DC) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), America's largest waste-fighting advocacy group, will sponsor a taxpayer forum entitled ] for Healthcare Reform:  Empowering the Patient, on Saturday, March 20, 1999.  The three-hour event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Palm Springs Riviera Resort and Racquet Club, 1600 N. Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, Calif.  The forum is entirely free and open to the public.

“Our taxpayer forum will give attendees a unique glimpse into the treacherous waters of healthcare reform,” remarked CAGW President Thomas A. Schatz.  “I encourage anyone with an interest in how their money is being spent in Washington to attend this event.”

CAGW has named U.S. Rep. Mary Bono (R-Calif.) as honorary chairwoman of the event.  The forum will be moderated by Schatz and will feature healthcare policy expert Grace-Marie Arnett, President of the Galen Institute; author and attorney John S. Hoff; and CAGW's Health and Science Director Elizabeth Wright.

Several hot-button health issues will be discussed at the event, including:  how the government effectively prohibits senior citizens from using their own money to privately contract with physicians; tax policy and health care; and the future of healthcare.

To register for the forum, interested parties are asked to call CAGW toll-free at 1-800-USA-DEBT.  CAGW is a 600,000 member, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.