LEWISTON — The Great Falls Forum lecture series will feature Trish Riley, former director of the Governor’s Office of Health Policy & Finance under Gov. Baldacci, speaking on “Federal Health Care Reform and its Impact on Maine.” The program takes place at noon Thursday, Jan. 20, in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library.

The federal Affordable Health Care Act was one of the major, and most controversial, pieces of legislation to come out of the last session of Congress. This insurance reform law is both comprehensive and complex and its full implications are just beginning to be understood.

One of the few Mainers fully knowledgeable about the Act is Riley. Throughout last year’s deliberations she served as Maine’s liaison to both the executive branch and Congress. Since its passage, Riley has chaired the Governor’s Steering Committee charged with planning the law’s implementation.

Riley will provide an overview of health care reform nationally, in addition to highlighting the sections of the act that will have the highest impact on Maine citizens and the state’s health care industry. A Q-and-A session will follow the talk.

Admission is free to all Forum events and no reservations are required. The presentation will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library, 200 Lisbon St. Attendees are invited to bring brown-bag lunches, or to take advantage of the Forum’s partnership with Guthries cafe and request one of the eatery’s custom-made, gourmet sandwiches or salads to be delivered to the library in advance of the talk. Orders may be placed by calling Guthries at 376-3344. The menu is available at www.guthriesplace.com. Bottled water will be available on site at the library.

The Great Falls Forum is jointly co-sponsored by Bates College, Lewiston Public Library and the Sun Journal. The Lewiston Public Library is downtown at 200 Lisbon St. at the corner of Pine Street. More information on Thursday’s lecture or other upcoming events in the Great Falls Forum series is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3135 or www.LPLonline.org.