Oklahomans for Health Care Reform hold meeting
BY ROBERT FOX STAFF WRITER RFOX@LAWTON-CONSTITUTION.COM
Oklahomans for Healthcare Reform asked about 90 people four questions Thursday evening so legislators could hear citizens concerns for themselves. Oklahomans for Healthcare Reform is a non-partisan organization that seeks solutions to existing health care problems and to provide Oklahomans a real voice to local and state officials and legislators regarding health care issues in Oklahoma. Rep. Don Armes (R-Faxon), Rep. Ann Coody (RLawton), Rep. Joe Dorman (D-Rush Springs) and Sen. Randy Bass (D-Lawton) expressed their agreement with issues and fielded questions where possible. n Are you afraid you will lose your health insurance in the next year? Why? One member of the audience said he knew he and his family would lose their insurance within the next year. His premium went from $471 a month with a $1,000 deductible two years ago to $989 a month with a $5,000 deductible. His premium increased 60 percent within the last eight months. Dorman said the man should check with Insure Oklahoma again. Recently the programs restrictions were loosened, allowing businesses to cover 200 employees and raising the maximum income to 300 percent of poverty level. Coody said the federal government is paying 60 percent of the cost of Insure Oklahoma. All four legislators said they would expand the program again if the additional funding was available. n What are health care providers’ concerns? Dr. Larry Goss, Duncan, said he’s been practicing for 37 years, and once upon a time he charged a couple of dollars for a visit and could get by with one nurse and a part-time receptionist. Now he has to have several employees. He said he and other physicians waste millions while employees sit on hold to get authorization for routine medications and treatments. Government and insurance company-required paperwork also drive provider costs up, while frivolous law suits do their part to raise the cost of insurance. Dorman said the state recently passed tort reform laws to address frivolous law suits, but said, “There is no reign — no control on insurance companies.” He noted that any regulations on insurance companies would have to be federal to cause meaningful change. “It’s more than the problems you addressed; we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Dorman said. Goss said state legislators have more power than they think and fixing little things would keep us from having to ask the federal government to step in. n Do you skip needed medical care? Why? Jean Green, who has no insurance currently, said she has skipped medical care. Part of the reason was the cost of the treatment, and part was a lack of faith in the treatments. Her lack of faith was caused by insurance companies forcing doctors and physician’s assistants to bill for treatments that may not be the best answer. “My biggest complaint about insurance ... they’ve hijacked the medical system,” Green said. n What are your concerns regarding the current health care system? One woman said she was concerned that the national health care bill will gut Medicare for funding, making it impossible for people who rely on Medicare to see a doctor. Coody said that isn’t something she or the others could vote on, but it is something people should talk to their national representatives about. Dorman said people can call 211. The information network was set up so anyone can call, give their location and be given a list of free and low-cost resources near them. Ken Raymond, one of the founders of Oklahomans for Healthcare Reform, said the most important thing that happened Thursday was people told the legislators what concerns them. “If people don’t force these conversations (to happen) .. then the problems get s w a l l o w e d up at the national level,” he said. Wayne Rohde, one of the group’s founders, said the two town hall meetings the group has held so far have seen more discussion than the national ones. “The idea is to get people talking, and we expand from there,” he said. He said the four legislators who showed up have a sincere interest in health care issues, and he appreciates them attending. JEFF DIXON/STAFF About 90 people wait to answer questions and express their concerns about health care in Oklahoma to state legislators at the Oklahomans for Healthcare Reform town hall meeting Thursday evening.
