Fighting For the Public Option

by: Congressman Frank Pallone

Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 02:21:49 PM EDT

Promoted by Jason Springer: There has been a good deal of talk about healthcare. What do you want to see included?

Last week marked 6 months on the job for President Obama and the 111th Congress. Together, we've already accomplished a lot when it comes to health care reform. Though we've taken the first major steps to reform our broken health care system, there are still many steps left until we finish the job.

This week President Obama addressed the American Medical Association and stressed the important role doctors will play in overhauling our health care system. As the New York Times opined just this past weekend, doctors largely decide what procedures or treatments are performed on patients. Everyone should know that the reforms will preserve the doctor-patient relationship. Those who want to keep the insurance they have and the doctors they have can do so. Nothing in the reforms will allow anyone or anything to come between doctors and patients in making health care decisions.

Congressman Frank Pallone :: Fighting For the Public Option

But, in order to truly reform our health care system and make it financially viable, we need to rein in wasteful and redundant procedures -- an effort that doctors support. We will reduce the amount of time they spend doing paperwork so they can devote more time practicing medicine. I was impressed by President Obama's remarks which stressed many important reforms: lowering administrative costs by increasing the use of electronic medical records, promoting prevention and healthier lifestyles. and changing the way we pay for health care services by focusing on quality over quantity.

Most importantly, the President stressed the importance of a public health insurance option being included in our health care reform legislation. A public option will provide more choice and more competition to private insurers, helping to lower costs to consumers.

President Obama has made it clear that he wants health care reform legislation on his desk by the end of the year, and we're working hard towards that timetable. There is an economic imperative to this goal because there is such a significant economic impact from health care spending. We won't recover from the recession if we don't bring health care spending under control.

Bob Braun of the Star-Ledger wrote about some of the reforms that could be included in the bill. These key reforms will overhaul our system in a manner that it hasn't seen in over 40 years. We will reduce costs, offer choice of doctors and plans and guarantee affordable, quality health care for all. We will have a uniquely American solution that builds on the best of what works and reforms what doesn't.

In just six months, we've seen more progress in this country than we've seen in decades. But our work is far from over. And I hope I can count on your support. As always, you can visit the Health Center on my website to share with me your health care stories and ideas for reform. Also, if you aren't already, I hope you will follow my "tweets" on Twitter as I'll updating on the health reform issue as it unfolds on Capitol Hill.

(Cross-posted at Daily Kos)

Tags: public option, health care reform, health care, Frank Pallone, (All Tags)

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Fighting For the Public Option | 1 comments

Here's what I said (4.00 / 4)

I sent the following comment to Frank Pallone, my Congressman; here it is for "my" BJ community:

Two things: First, I am really disappointed that you haven't signed on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 676--partly because it's better than the alternatives(it might even be as good as the VA or Medicare), and partly because doing so would strengthen your negotiating position vis-a-vis the public option.

Second, it is essential that Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center be restored as the first-class, full-service acute care hospital it was for so many years. This isn't just a Plainfield problem (although Plainfield is in your district); Muhlenberg was the primary hospital serving about 200,000 people in 13 communities in three counties--and every one of those 13 communities went on record as opposing its closure. Other hospitals in the area are now overloaded and the lack of care has created serious problems. There may be no direct "stimulus" rabbits you can pull out of your Congressional hat, but the very least you can do is speak up--Plainfielders are especially concerned and most directly affected.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." (Teddy Roosevelt)

by: DottieG @ Thu Jun 18, 2009 at 18:54:20 PM UTC