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Updated: 7:21 PM Jun 23, 2009
Meridian Physician Comments on Health Care Reform
Meridian, Miss. A week after President Obama addressed the American Medical Association about his proposal on how to reform health care, a local policy maker with the group is speaking out. Posted: 5:15 PM Jun 23, 2009Reporter: Andrea Williams Email Address: andrea.williams@wtok.com |
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5 Comments 
A week after President Obama addressed the American Medical Association about his proposal on how to reform health care, a local policy maker with the group is speaking out.
Dr. . Scott Anderson serves as the medical director at Anderson Cancer Center in Meridian. He attended last week's speech in Chicago.
Anderson is one of the delegates from Mississippi who votes on policies for the AMA. He says while the AMA supports health care reform initiatives that are consistent with its vision, at this time, it is not endorsing or denouncing the part of the president's proposal that calls for a public plan which would create a government-run insurance program to compete with private insurance companies.
Anderson said no matter what, something must be done to address the needs of the uninsured.
"In just the time since the economic downturn has occurred, the number of uninsured Americans has gone from 42 million to 45 million. The latest statistics were 54 million," said Anderson. "That's 25 states the size of Mississippi without insurance."
When it comes to the public plan aspect of the president's proposal, Anderson says there are still some things that need to be worked out.
President Obama says he hopes to have a health care reform plan ready to sign into law by October.
Latest Comments
What you are apparently not understanding is that you are already paying for the care of the uninsured, just in an inefficient indirect way. The care doesn't just magically appear. It is paid for by increased charges to everyone who is insured or pays for health care directly. The most rapidly growing segment of the uninsured population is in fact men over fifty who do make over $50,000 per year. The reason they are uninsured is not as Bill suggests that they simply choose not to purchase health care it is because they cannot afford or cannot even get coverage because of the insurance industry's ability to "cherry-pick" and dump those who are most likely to need care.
I totally agree with what these three viewers have written. Also, the 46 million "Uninsureds" quoted is not correct. When you subtract the "illegals" and those making over $50,000 per year who choose not to buy insurance, the actual number of Americans who can't afford insurance is one third to one half this number. I do not want a government run plan. As Paul Harvey said, "The government never has done anything as effectively or as efficiently as private enterprise." I believe the same would be true with government run health care. We already have Medicaid for the poor, and we could use subsidies (vouchers) for those who don't qualify for Medicaid but need help. The government will not provide the same health care for less money!
You said it Robert! The govt. is not responsible for taking care of everyone that isn't willing to take care of themselves. I wonder if the majority of the public is aware of just how often people abuse the use of emergency rooms? There are multiple times when people will bring EVERY member of their family to be seen in the ER for something as simple as a cold! Imagine 6 kids in the er for treatment! Ridiculous & the majority of the time, these are the very people who are uninsured or on Medicaid. You would think they'd be more prudent in using the ER for ACTUAL emergencies... Govt healthcare (Medicaid & Medicare) aren't working now- why should we expect it to work just because Obama is pushing for it? I have a suggestion- instead of spending millions on giving away healthcare, housing, food stamps, etc. How about spending some money on creating some jobs to actually "police" those requesting public assistance?! There are plenty who are just lying about their needs for a handout.
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