Local providers weigh in on health care

GREEN BAY - Those who manage local health care providers say the president's goal of improving the health care system is noble, and one that needs attention.

"All the bills that address increasing access are important," said Heidi Selberg. Selberg represents St. Mary's and St. Vincent Hospitals, and is also on Democratic Congressman Steve Kagen's health care advisory committee. She and others have questions about the plan.

"There are some proposals that talk about reimbursing hospitals at medicare rates," said Selberg. "And across the country there are huge discrepancies in how medicare pays hospitals and health care providers."

"I have always believed that the government should be the official regulating the industry and not participating in the industry," said Jeff Mason. Mason is president of the board of Aurora Bay Care Medical Center, as well as chief executive officer of Bay Care Clinic. He says a number of things in the health care bill need work.

One question that has come up at listening sessions in Northeast Wisconsin and at President Obama's town hall meeting in New Hampshire: what will the new plan do to the number of doctors in the country?

"I think that's a valid concern," said Mason. "I think that many of the uninsured get care today because they'll go into an emergency room and so there are physicians staffing in an emergency or urgent situation and they do get cared for today. So I don't think that problem will be quite as expansive as some people might. "

"Already there are shortages of primary care physicians, we know that, and that certainly could increase that concern...This is not just an issue regarding health care reform, it's an issue regardless," said Selberg.

During his town hall meeting Tuesday, President Barack Obama told the crowd, "We are going to be taking steps, as part of reform, to deal with expanding primary care physicians and our nursing corps. On the doctors' front, one of the things we can do is to reimburse doctors who are providing preventive care and not just the surgeon who provides care after somebody is sick."

While the health care reform proposal continues to change, so does the discussion surrounding it.

We haven't seen health care listening sessions in northeast Wisconsin this week, however, a number were held last week.
Democratic Representative Steve Kagen has one scheduled for the end of the month in Marinette.