Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Pol speaks about health care reformBY JESSICA LYONSCongressmember Anthony Weiner held a health care town hall at North Shore Towers in Floral Park last week, detailing his own plan and addressing concerns about reform brought up by residents.
During the October 8 town hall, Weiner identified three problems in health care that need to be solved. They are: providing health insurance for those who don’t have it, making sure those who do have it have quality coverage, and addressing problems with rising costs. Weiner, who is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, explained that the proposed health care reform would include a public plan for the uninsured that would be less expensive private health insurance. However, he said that he has his own plan, which would call for a program such as Medicare for all people. Weiner said that 96 percent of seniors said they like Medicare and are satisfied with it, although he said it is not perfect and there are problems that need to be fixed. But, Weiner said that, as a model, Medicare works, is efficient and does not have a lot of waste. “I think we should expand it,” he said. Following his speech, the floor was opened up to residents to ask questions about health care reform. One issue that was brought up was tort reform and putting caps on malpractice suits. Weiner said that 46 out of the 50 states have some sort of cap. Even so, he said, the cost of medical care and malpractice insurance has not decreased. He said that tort reform doesn’t seem to get the money needed. Another resident asked what the chances were of the public option going through. Weiner said that there will be an option, although at this time it is not known how strong it will be. He also said he thought that chances were 60/40 with the majority being in favor of it. Weiner was also asked about the “best practices” committee, what it means, and why it is needed. Weiner explained that it is not a new committee but rather the aggregation of three panels that already exist. The panels, which include doctors, hospitals and technology, would now be placed under one umbrella so that all information about what does and does not work would be together. Other topics discussed included out-of-state insurance, the cost of the health care reform, and what will happen if it costs more than projected |
|
|||||||||||
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of queenscourier.com.
Kettle2 wrote on Oct 31, 2009 2:14 PM:
" I has been two years in the making....we already have a plan...the Presidents with an OPTION.
we do not need any more ideas...
we got it...we are going to pass it. "
we do not need any more ideas...
we got it...we are going to pass it. "
Bill Watson wrote on Nov 2, 2009 11:49 AM:
" Reform must start over; current reform efforts are using government’s advantages to force consumers and employers to pay even more money for health care which will then be given to insurers and hospitals that have a long history of failing to serve us fairly.
Nobody can collect the money to pay for health care as cheaply as the government can through a national sales tax, and nobody can deliver high quality care and medications as cost effectively as the VA.
Two choices should be offered to everyone to use either; free public health care, no insurance, no co pays, free period, sales tax funded, delivered from a new system of government owned and operated hospitals, using the VA format, which would provide all government funded care, or alternatively consumers could choose to purchase private insurance and private care.
Employers could opt out and turnover health care to government.
Consumers, employers, and taxpayers would save hundreds of billions annually and it is the morally fair. "
Nobody can collect the money to pay for health care as cheaply as the government can through a national sales tax, and nobody can deliver high quality care and medications as cost effectively as the VA.
Two choices should be offered to everyone to use either; free public health care, no insurance, no co pays, free period, sales tax funded, delivered from a new system of government owned and operated hospitals, using the VA format, which would provide all government funded care, or alternatively consumers could choose to purchase private insurance and private care.
Employers could opt out and turnover health care to government.
Consumers, employers, and taxpayers would save hundreds of billions annually and it is the morally fair. "
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
Article Rating
 |
 |
|
| Plan rebate for energy-efficient appliances | Commissioner Kelly praises 102nd Precinct |
