Health reform forum in Watertown aims to ease confusion

People are having a tough time getting answers on the complex national health-care reform plan because they're not sure which questions to ask.

Margaret Moree, director of federal affairs for the Business Council of New York State, said that's because even though people hear reform issues being discussed at the federal level, there's no clarity.

"We're not seeing a conversation being talked about across the spectrum; rather, it's just about the uninsured, or cost drivers," she said Tuesday during the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce's critical issues forum at the Ramada Inn.

According to the health-care reform Web site, President Barack Obama's health-care reform plan should "control rising health care costs, guarantee choice of doctor, and assure high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans."

Although the Web site provides reform reports, there's no simple explanation of how the plan will be carried out.

Mrs. Moree said much confusion about health-care reform stems from Congress talking about a public option, but providing no information on how its members envision that happening.

She said the Business Council is not opposed to health-care reform; council officials just want the right kind of reform. That would mean eliminating several business owners' reform fears by excluding the possibility of doing away with the self-insurance market.

The reason the council cares so much about the issue, Mrs. Moree said, is that its members' number one issue is health-care affordability. Paul F. Barton, Westelcom president, said that is also why the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce decided to have a health-care reform discussion for its speaker series Tuesday.

James DeChere, one of the speakers and manager of the eastern region of congressional and public affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said one of the most popular health-care reform topics is the public option component. The plan's public option amendments have recently been defeated by Senate committees, he said, but they may surface again.

Mr. DeChere said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is opposed to public option for many reasons, including a cost shift that could be created between Medicare and private insurers.

Mrs. Moree argued that a public option already exists in the state, in the form of Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus.

After discussing the reform, Mrs. Moree, Mr. DeChere and Richard A. Brooks, Samaritan Keep Home administrator and vice president of long-term care and support services at Samaritan, took questions from the audience. The reaction was much of the same: confusion.

"I've not seen any clarity at all," said Donald C. Alexander, chief executive officer of the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency. "I want to know how in heaven's name Congress is comfortable with not addressing these problems. I'm astounded they're advancing this notion."

Mr. DeChere said even though the public might have concerns with the reform plan, congressional leaders would like to see a bill passed by Thanksgiving.

All of the speakers suggested people contact their elected officials if they have questions or comments on health-care reform.

ON THE NET

Health care reform: www.healthreform.gov