Health care messages for Obama

DE PERE - The health care system is admittedly broken and reform is in the air.

"What message do you have for the president and Washington?" asked Congressman Steve Kagen.

The Northeast Wisconsin representative brought together health professionals, insurers and even patients to offer suggests and concerns to President Obama and legislators.

"We should all have coverage. We think this standardized plan will be more affordable for more of us," said Dr. Tim Bartholow, vice president of the Wisconsin Medical Society.

Many health care professionals offered statements that were recorded by the congressman's staff to be relayed to President Obama and congress to help in developing the details of a health care reform bill.

"We have to do something and I'm honored the president is coming here to listen to us," said Kagen.

President Obama is looking to standardize the costs of health care, and provide insurance coverage for some 45 million uninsured Americans right now. It would involve hospitals, doctors, insurers and patients getting involved to make it work.

"I don't really think what you're doing in Congress and president proposing is going to fix it," said Dr. Ashok Rai, chief executive officer with Prevea Health Care.

Dr. Rai agrees the system needs an overhaul, but doesn't believe it can be fixed during one election cycle.

Rai: You can't be short sided and say we're going to provide everyone health care insurance but not define what that is , and how much money that is.

Estimates show the cost of Obama's plan could run $1-trillion over the next decade.

Dr. John Toussaint heads up ThedaCare Center for Health Value and his message for the president is money can be saved by rewarding improved quality and eliminating waste in health care today.

"We believe there's at least 40 percent waste and that's a trillion dollars," said Toussaint.

Jim Enright: Change is in the air, and it could be good," added Jim Enright, with Trilogy Health Insurance.

Local ideas and voices this week are getting the opportunity to be heard on a national level. President Obama is expected to hold several town hall style meetings around the country over the next several weeks. He's using them to better gauge the country's health care concerns.