Doctors offer health care reform advice

A panel of doctors and business leaders sat on stage at the Meyer Theatre the share their thoughts on fixing the health care system.

"If HR 3200 is passed as written this would be a disaster for our health care system," Dr. John Gallagher from Aurora Medical Group told FOX 11 before the meeting. Gallagher said everyone on the panel supports health care reform, just not the legislation being proposed. He says medical professionals need to have more input in the reforms.

"All we're saying is listen to the people who consume health care and those people that provide health care," Gallagher said.

"I think the concept is good," Ob/Gyn Dr. Nicky Plementosh said."It's just that I think they really need to come to the people that are working with it everyday to get their opinion of how we can make this better."

Some of the ideas discussed by the panel include legal reform, specifically for malpractice, allowing health insurance to continue across state lines, and reducing government bureaucracy.

"I think people are protecting their turf," said Deb Stover from the Brown County Democratic Party. She was at the forum and said the panel did lean conservative. She said despite people's political motivation, she welcomes the discussion.

"I still hope at the end of the day that we can all come together and find some common ground on this issue because the truth of the matter is health care costs are out of control in this country," Stover said.

"Health care is a non-partisan issue," said Dr. Ashok Rai, the president and CEO of Prevea Health. Rai said the forum had nothing to do with politics. He said what's needed is to keep politics out of the debate.

"To have politicians get into arguments with the public about an issue that we spent our lives training to take care of is very frustrating," Rai said. "I wish we could sit down, have a good discussion and find a good middle ground."

The event was put together by the Brown County Medical Society and the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. This is not the last health care event the chamber is holding. Next Tuesday, the chamber, along with the Fox Cities Chamber, is holding what they're calling a "Rally for Responsible Reform" at Fox Cities Stadium. The event is intended to show opposition to the current health care legislation being proposed.