BANGOR — The Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce will kick off its season of Early Bird Breakfasts with the panel discussion: “The State of Healthcare Today.” It will take place at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, at Jeff’s Catering in the East-West Industrial Park in Brewer.

Topics will include: Medicare and Insurance Issues; Elder Care; Death with Dignity; Healthcare Legislation; Patients’ Bill of Rights; Parity for Mental Health and more. A question and answer session will follow the discussion.

Panelists for the discussion will be Nelson Durgin, executive director for Boyd Place at Phillips-Strickland House and treasurer of the St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation; Rep. Joe Brooks, now serving his second term in the Maine Legislature; and Norman A. Ledwin, chief executive officer and president of Eastern Maine Healthcare.

Registration fees are $9 for Chamber members and $13 for nonmembers. For information or to register, call Mary Griffin at 947-0307.