Healthcare discussions

Reforming health care to make it more accessible at reasonable cost is uppermost in  the minds of every American, the congress and the president. It is an issue critical to everyone, and should not be pushed through Congress on a fast track and as a political football.  Because it will probably be the most monumental, and hopefully positive, action of this congress and administration, it must be structured with consideration of all the facets that play into providing the very best health care for all of our citizens.

Some state that this is a “right” for every citizen. That is true, if with this right those citizens assume “responsibility” for keeping their bodies as healthy as possible. Much of the skyrocketing cost of health care comes from those individuals who do not concentrate on their own good health and abuse their bodies. Lake County residents are extremely fortunate to have access to excellent health care when needed. 

It is vital to have the medical providers’ input into a successful reform. If the government structures a plan that is overly restrictive and demanding on our health experts, it will drive many outstanding potential health care providers away from the profession. The nation cannot afford a shortage of physicians and health personnel when many more will be required.

A companion to health care reform must be tort reform. If irresponsible and oppressive practices continue on the part of the legal profession, health care costs will only continue to escalate.  To reign in costs, the legal profession must be reformed, also. It must be prevented from bringing the groundless and frivolous lawsuits that require  physicians to practice defensive medicine, ordering many expensive tests that are totally unnecessary. 

Lake County residents will have the opportunity to hear some health care providers present their perspectives on what is needed to provide a workable reform in health care delivery. Come to a non-partisan discussion of “The Many Facets of Health Care Reform” at the Polson Library meeting room at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26.

Dr. Kurt Thorderson, an orthopedic surgeon in Kalispell, has been participating in a Duke University study of health care plans in other countries. He will be joined by Dr. Steve Milheim, a general surgeon, and  Mrs. Velinda Stevens, a hospital administrator. Jack Cummings, who has been involved as an insurance provider, will round out the panel of speakers.

Much of the congress and administration’s plan is being based upon the proposal that Montana’s Senator Max Baucus has drafted, “Call to Action: Health Care Reform 2009.” Because Congress is in recess on May 26, it is hoped that the Montana congressional delegation will attend or send appropriate staff personnel to benefit from the input of these health care providers.

The program, sponsored by the Lake County Republican Women’s Club, is one in a series of non-partisan talks on issues of concern to all Americans, regardless of party affiliation.