With health care legislation dominating news throughout the country, many people are unsure of the impact of the system overhaul. A symposium tonight at University North Carolina Wilmington will attempt to clarify the new health care rules on a consumer level.

“The objective tonight is to have an informed discussion on how people are proceeding with health care legislation,” said Bill Graham. He heads the Cape Fear Health Policy Council and will open the discussion; panelists include Scott Whisnant of the New Hanover Regional Medical Center and Kathleen Ennen from the UNCW School of Nursing.

“This is not a lot of political windbag talk, this is serious people in the health care business talking about the progress to date and the plans for the future,” Graham said.

Graham explained that because of the broad impact of the new legislation many consumers are unsure what happens next, and that many previously uninsured citizens are now anxious to gain access to medical coverage.

There are many areas of health care that will be affected by the legislation, including home health care, hospitals and standard doctor offices. Whisnant will be able to speak from his experiences offering free clinics to the Wilmington community.

“He’ll be able to give an update on how the community is doing with helping the indigent and the poor,” Graham said.

The other panelists speaking tonight are Wanda Coley, Chief Operating Officer of WellCare Home Health and Jonathan Hines of Wilmington Health Associates. Rob Kaiser, publisher of the Greater Wilmington Business Journal, will serve as moderator.

The conversation begins at 6 p.m. in the Warwick Center on the UNCW campus. The event is free and open to the public.