Hello friend,
Once again, I asked for your input. And once again, you came through.
As I noted in my video last week, the House's Health Care
committee will be shaping potentially far-reaching health care legislation this session - and I'm a member of the committee.
Thanks to your responses to my Health Care dialogue, I not only have a better idea of where my constituents stand on the issues, but also come to the
committee armed with new, creative ideas for health care reform.
Just like last week, I am still reading through all your responses - and probably won't be able to get back to everyone individually. But I do want
to let you know what I'm hearing, and how your thoughts are shaping our ongoing dialogue.
Of course, if you're looking for quicker follow up, you can always call our office, email me, or meet up with me at a Coffee Shop Conversation - I've
got one coming up on February 19th at the Bipartisan Café in Montavilla. (click here for more information)
What follows is a summary of what I learned.
Your response to the question of whether we have a collective responsibility to Oregon's uninsured was unambiguous. 87% of you agreed or strongly
agreed that we did.
Laura strongly agrees: "I want good health care for my family, but I want it for the family down the street and the homeless fellow
ON the street."
Michael believes that "Oregon needs to take care of Oregonians as soon as possible." While we can retire an Oregon-specific health plan "when an
adequate federal replacement comes along, we can't delay until then."
Jack draws the line at government-provided coverage: "I think it is our responsibility to make adequate health care possible. I do not think it
nessessarily best to provide it."
Neal sees side benefits to creating a strong state health care system: "Providing affordable health care to all would result in a competitive
advantage for Oregon in that it could help attract business to the state."
You also overwhelmingly support establishing health benefits that are not tied to employment - again, by over 80%.
Chris points out that "Everyone has healthcare needs, regardless of their employment status." In his view, "One thing has nothing to
do with the other, thus the finances of the two should not be intertwined."
Mac envisions a more flexible concept of employment-based health benefits: "I'd like to see the relationship between insurance provider and the
employee be one that can span different jobs, and periods of unemployment."
Douglas argues that "the state should have a comprehensive affordable health insurance system." But it shouldn't be a free system: "Everyone should
pay in through taxes; everyone should be able to afford access when needed."
Though it's a difficult conversation to have, you strongly support an honest debate about what treatments we can afford and not afford to include, if
the outcome is expanded access to health care.
Though Karen "wouldn't want to be in the room deciding what services won't be available to which individuals with which
circumstances," she does believe know that such conversations must take place: "there are some conditions that require treatments that are insanely
expensive and disproportionately drain resources."
Cynthia argues that "the discussion of basic care ought to include the analysis of treatment effectiveness," and that we should be cautious about
"what pharmaceutical companies are currently pushing."
Barbara thinks that the basic healthcare package "shouldn't be barebones, but should surely be based on evidence based treatments with proven
efficacy."
In thinking through the importance of behavior and lifestyle choices on health status, and implications for health care reform, you focused on
preventative care.
Liz points out that "while medical care is important, it is about what happens when you are sick. By then 'the train has left the
station,' so to speak." She argues that we "need to invest in those things that we know will lead to improved health."
Darvel calls for a "new health care system that emphasizes wellness education and prevention of diseases/accidents, with health clinics in all
schools and all communities."
Carl sees the need for a different concept of insurance altogether: "We need to move away from the thinking of insurance to cover our medical
problems to a more preventative type of insurance i.e. address the problem before it gets to a major crisis level."
Both Patti and Ginny suggest that we give greater emphasis to services provided by medical professionals other than physicians. In their view, dieticians, physical therapists, social workers, chiropractors, and other health professionals are much less expensive than physicans, and, in Patti's
words "can make changes in people's lives that are remarkable."
Finally, you as a group have had an above average personal experience with the US health care system - half of you rated your experience as good
or excellent. Another third rated your experience as average.
What I learned
By large majorities, you have endorsed some of the guiding principles of House Bill 2009, a health care reform bill that is based on the
recommendations of the Oregon Health Fund Board. I will continue to work in committee to ensure that the bill takes advantage of federal dollars
to maximize coverage for children and low-income adults, and that it lays the groundwork for broader reforms including an insurance exchange and
reforming the delivery system to control costs. I'll be interested in your additional thoughts about this bill as it continues to take shape.
Let's continue the dialogue
As the US Congress debates the stimulus package likely to pass in some form or another within the next week or two, I'm currently writing my next
online dialogue, focused on the state budget and revenue issues.
I can hardly think of a more timely issue - the budget situation is far and away the most hotly debated topic here in the Capitol.
Keep an eye out in the next couple of days for the new dialogue.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
State Representative Ben Cannon
900 Court St NE
Salem, OR 97301
rep.bencannon@state.or.us
http://www.repbencannon.com
(503)986-1446
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