Peoria Health Care Town Hall/Debate

Lynn (a campaign/yoga buddy), Barbara (my wife) and I went to a health care debate this evening. Two medical doctors lead it off; Dr. William Albers made the case for single payer and and Dr. Donald Crane made the case for a national health system in which private insurers (with tight regulation) provided the insurance.

In short, both doctors thought that we needed reform and that the free market wasn’t the solution; neither thought that health care should be a “for profit” type of thing (beyond, say, the kind of profit that a private utility might make).

Then there was a question and answer period; the first “question” was more of “this was my hospital stay” remark; then several doctors (and a medical student) made remarks. Those were worthwhile; in fact I was surprised at how “liberal sounding” the doctors were. Many complained about the amount of time and effort (and human resources) that were used just to get payment and to get insurance companies to pay.

I liked what Dr. Rick Pearl had to say.

Also, the burden of insurance companies having to meet different regulations in each state was discussed.

Of the other doctors, some wanted single payer, others wanted a German or Swiss type system.

Eventually the questions/remark period deteriorated; first some woman talked about there not being that many people without insurance and about her taxes; then “Dr. Tinfoil” got up and mouthed about government not being able to do anything right; how government was the reason we are in trouble now, death panels, etc. Then some conspiracy nutjob tried to hold us all captive (talked about borders, immigrant reform…etc.) and was finally cut off.

Still, it was worthwhile and the only person to get shouted down was the aforementioned nutjob.

Afterward, it was to Aachi’s for Indian food.

Of course I wore my Obama shirt and Lynn and I made quiet snide remarks from time to time.

Here is the Peoria Journal Star Report.

PEORIA —

The Rev. Rose Booker-Jones doesn’t necessarily believe government should run the health care system. She has questions and wants to learn more about proposals for health care reform.

Booker-Jones was among more than 200 area residents who attended a nonpartisan health care debate and town hall-style meeting Tuesday hosted by the Peoria Medical Society at Barrack’s Cater Inn. One view many shared: Some sort of reform is necessary.

“This debate that is going on now is perhaps the most important domestic issue of our time,” said Dr. William Albers, one of two physicians who led the debate.

Albers said the issue, which has led to violence at some town hall meetings across the nation, has become too polarized. “The issue should be what’s best for this country. The closer we get to a real solution, the more controversial this is going to be.”

Two major problems, Albers said, are insuring the uninsured and containing costs. So what are the solutions?

Albers advocated the merits of a single-payer health plan that assures full universal coverage, although it is not being considered by government officials. A single-payer plan, based on the idea of Medicare-for-all, is the most effective means to provide universal health care coverage and cut national health care costs, he said.

Dr. Donald Crane, Caterpillar Inc.’s former medical director, advocates for a public, government assistance system with private insurance as an option.

“This country’s health care program is badly dysfunctional, and I think it’s going to remain that way as long as it’s based on private health insurance,” Crane said.

“We need checks and balances, not only to ensure reasonable pricing but also for quality assurances. However, private insurance as it currently operates needs to be changed dramatically.”

Both doctors are members of the Peoria Medical Society.

[...]
Karen McDonald can be reached at 686-3285 or kmcdonald@pjstar.com.

Here is a link to the Journal Star Photo ( there are more; click on the thumbnail to see the original and to see other photos)

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