Archives > Plano Star-courier > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Health care vote draws hefty reaction
By Zach Markovic, zmarkovic@acnpapers.com
Republicans and Democrats took sides in the national debate on health care reform, and even after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the reform legislation Sunday night, the debate continues – even with residents and professionals on the local level.
Texas legislators and party leaders argue the pros, mostly from Democrats, and the cons (from Republicans) on the $938 billion package that gives the country its first sweeping change in health care in about 50 years.
The bill aims to provide health care to millions who don’t have it through a variety of tax credits, expanded coverage and mandates.
“Our health services need an overhaul, and this is going to get it started. It is definitely a step in the right direction,” Barksdale said. “It is not perfect, but we have to let it start working to see what needs to be fixed.”
She said she could not understand how the U.S., being one of the richest countries in the world, could not provide health care for children. Helping protect children was key to the reform’s passage.
Under the reform, insurance companies will not be able to deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions or drop people from coverage when they become ill, according to Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform. Adults who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions will have access to insurance through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool. Children will be able to stay on their parents’ insurance plan until they turn 26.
Other citizens agree with Barksdale’s idea that it is progress in fixing the health care situation.
Plano resident Michael Whittman said, “I think that if we are the premiere country then we should have the premiere health care system. I don’t think that this [reform] will solve that, but I think it is a step in the right direction.”
But it is far from a cure-all for the ailments of health care.
Dr. Ted Wen, a Texas Health Presbyterian Plano radiologist, said through his readings of the bill he still has very mixed feelings on it.
Wen said the bill looks more like insurance reform than health care reform. He said there are still shortfalls that are not addressed, one being how doctors are trained. There is a clear shortage of physicians, especially on the primary-care level. He also points out that there was no move to promoting personal responsibility of patients leading healthier lifestyles, which would lower health care costs.
“There are a lot of negatives, and there are some big winners, but it is still uncertain,” he said. “What I do know is, as a citizen and a person in the community, I feel that it is important that we help the uninsured.”
However, like much of the nation there are still those who oppose the federal government’s actions this week.
Jana Arentsen said she can understand the need to protect children – since has a sister with type I diabetes – but that the bill gives too much power to the government over patients.
“I think the government is involved in too much anyway,” Arentsen said. “I am definitely not in favor of it passing. I am glad that pre-existing conditions are not going to be held against kids. That, for me, is a good thing, but I think we would have been fine without [the reform].”
Among other concerns raised by the Republican leadership are: the effects the bill will have on local businesses – private businesses must offer insurance to their employees or face a penalty; wealthier individuals will have to pay more to Medicare; and insurance companies face new regulations, though they could also see an increase in patients.
Medicaid will be expanded to include families under 65 with gross income up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level and childless adults. Various Republicans say the Health and Human Services Commission indicates that mandate will cost Texas $24 billion over the next 10 years to open up that eligibility.
Republicans say that the bill also presents a philosophical conflict – that it’s unfair for the federal government to require everyone to have health insurance.
And there are still those who go beyond that. Rhetoric on both sides is still very heated, between governmental officials and citizens alike. Steve Kellmeyer, a Plano resident, feels that what happened this weekend was a “catastrophe,” and he fully blames President Barack Obama for the bill.
“It is the biggest catastrophe the U.S. has faced since World War II, and I am hoping Barack Obama is impeached and jailed,” he said. “I am a historian. I have seen despots in the history books and how they go about it, and Barack Obama is going to rank up there with Lenin and Stalin.”
"The Flower Mound Leader" community editor Chris Roark contributed to this article.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
