MUNSTER | A group of Northwest Indiana health care professionals will begin meeting this week to talk about issues affecting the industry and consumers.

Mitch Roob, secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, will headline the first of six meetings planned over the coming year of The Times Health Care Advisory Council.

Roob, along with State Sen. Gary Dillon, a Republican from Columbia City representing the Senate health care committee, and State Rep. Charlie Brown, a Democrat from Gary who is chairman of the House health care committee, will address the Thursday meeting about legislation impacting the health care industry.

State Sen. Earline Rogers, the ranking Democrat on the Senate committee and State Rep. Ed Charbonneau, a former CEO of Methodist Hospitals, will also participate.

Times Publisher Bill Masterson Jr. and Executive Editor William Nangle formed the council at the urging of those in the medical field, Nangle said.

"The management of The Times felt it was our responsibility to facilitate a gathering of health care officials in an effort to provide a forum where they can meet to discuss health care issues," Masterson said.

"The interaction and sharing of ideas between these medical professionals, we hope, will lead to better health information and services for Northwest Indiana."

Members include representatives from area hospitals and from related health care fields, including employer health care, doctors and nurses associations and medical insurance.

Various other representatives of medical organizations and interest groups will also participate.

"From hospitals to hospice and sports medicine, there is a broad voice regarding medical care represented on the council," Nangle said.

At initial meetings to form the group, participants said their concerns include the cost of health care, including for those without the means to pay; the effects on the industry of an aging population, wellness and other preventive programs and hospital safety, among others.