Sooo. I attended. Stood in line and did some observations. My first impression was that this was definetly a "pro healthcare reform" event apparently "Health Care for reform Now" got the message but nobody else did. As this was made known to the public at the last minute... more on that later..... there was very little opposing views present.
While I stood in line, individuals were passing out there professionally made "health care reform now!" signs to anyone holding out their hand asking for it... I wished I would have thought ahead and brought my big fat Sharpie to put the "NOT" symbol around it ...but I was exhausted.
As I stood in line the libs, yammered back and forth about their health care woes and how the Obama plan would be so great for all their ills. They passed around "petitions" which I politely declined to sign, and gave interviews to local media.
Now mind you I had on my White lab coat and work badges. I had one individual ask me what I did. I told them that I was a registered nurse, 20 years in the trenches of healthcare.
Being amongst the dominant crowd gave this person the automatic assumption that I was one of them. And he proceeded to bad mouth the opposition and the good Americans that had the same right as he to be there to express an opinion. When he complained about how the "mob" groups were ruining townhalls across America I reminded him that all people had a right to voice their opinion.... and that the "otherside" has been notorious for doing the exact same tactics... even worse and what he was hearing in the public was a case of Psychological Projection...whereby one blames another for behaviors that the one is actually doing or has done in the past . Well it didn't take too long for him to figure out that I was obviously not buying the "healthcare reform now" mantra.
And we engaged in some even handed disputes. I let him know that as a nurse I have had the unique opportunity to work with nurses from both Canada and England (I have a dear friend that is a hospice nurse in Manchester England) and reiterated that those in the "government controlled health care system do not recommend it as it does ration, cost controls and can NOT meet all the needs of all the people.
We worked our way to the front (after standing in line for a little over and hour) and were one of the last few to get in.... meaning we ended up in a different room with a viewing screen... so no personal face time with Senator Brown would be happening over their.
The "panel" comprised of an OSU MD... a Nationwide Children's MD a private sector business owner who couldn't afford to pay for insurance for his employees anymore...save for the employees who were his family and one other... a new graduate student who had the experience of being without health care insurance ...my understanding by choice,... and developed a serious illness.... and another gentleman business owner unable to meet the health insurance for his employees as well.
Each forum panel member raised very good concerns and questions in regard to how the Dims plan would be better for them ... each wanted access for all.... better cost control and the NCH MD pointed out better reimbursement from the government... as right now Medicaid pays up to 30% less than most health insurances do.... (I really thought she made an excellent point about how the government subsidy health care pays less for care than private insurance companies...generally "stiffing" the Healthcare provider.
So it went on for 2 hours. Some very good patriots who did get there were able to ask some very good questions. Occasional heckling from both sides but the overall a civil meeting...
As fortunes would have it while I stood in line...I noticed a gentleman in line just behind me who ...like me wasn't saying much about the "pro-health care" agenda that people were talking about.... as the line moved forward and just by looking at his body language I could tell he was also one of the minority who showed up for this last minute forum. We had a great conversation with each other and challenged others /held others in line accountable for their rhetoric. Turns out the guy lives in my community down in Hide-A-way Hills. We were, for all purposes, neighbors who found each other in a storm of opposition... AHHHHH God is good
After the meeting I phoned Senator Brown's office in Cleveland and asked why this wasn't posted on his web page....or announced via email. The staffer told me that it was a private event organized by Ohio state University and that at the last minute they decided to open it up to the public....yeah right...I said'....how convenient.! I asked if Senator Brown had any other "town hall"s planned and she said she didn't know of any currently but that she was sure they were in the works. I told here that I thought it being nearly mid August that surely he would have a calendar of his events planned out and that it was good pr to have communications with his constituents and keep them in the loop of his where abouts and events happening. I commented that I thought he and his staffers were either not very well organized or purposely deceptive .... and asked her which one she thought it was.... well anyway... I looked on his website today ... and remember she (the staffer) told me this was a forum organized by OSU... then I found this in his website.... Which sort of negates everything she told me....
.Press Releases » Press Release Sen. Brown Holds Forum in Columbus Entitled "Health Insurance Reform - What's in It for You?"As U.S. Senate Continues to Craft Health Insurance Reform Bill, Brown Hears from Ohioans Struggling With High Health Costs, Access to Care
August 12, 2009COLUMBUS, OHIO – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) held a forum today at The Ohio State University entitled “Health Insurance Reform – What’s In It for You?”
“Health insurance reform means that all Americans will pay less for health care and be protected against insurance industry practices that limit care or pass along huge out-of-pocket costs to consumers,” Brown said. “The status quo might be working for HMOs, but it’s not working for American families and businesses. That’s why I’m working to pass health insurance reform that puts hardworking Ohioans first, not big insurance companies.”
Brown received testimony from Ohioans struggling with rising health costs and access to medical care. Providing testimony were two small business owners who have seen premiums and deductibles associated with providing insurance to employees skyrocket in recent years; an Ohioan struggling to obtain health insurance due to a pre-existing medical condition; and a recent college graduate who struggled to afford health costs and find a job that provides health insurance.
In Ohio, average family health insurance premiums have increased by 92 percent since 2000 while wages have decreased. Ohio families and businesses pay a “hidden tax” of around $1,000 per year – meaning that insurers raise their premiums by an average of $1,000 to subsidize the costs of the uninsured. Nearly 400 Ohioans lose their health insurance each day. Eleven percent of Ohioans are uninsured – 64 percent of them are in families with at least one full-time worker.
High health costs are also undermining the competitiveness of Ohio businesses. While small businesses make up 72 percent of Ohio businesses, only 47 percent of them offered health coverage benefits in 2006, a decrease of 5 percent since 2000. Businesses also pay high costs to cover their employees, due to limited choice of health insurance in Ohio. The top two health insurance providers account for 58 percent of the health insurance market in Ohio.
Brown, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, outlined how health insurance reform will reduce private insurance premiums and out-of-pocket health care expenses, while giving all Americans more affordable private and public insurance options during periods of unemployment.
Health insurance reform includes the following protections for consumers against abusive practices by some insurance companies:
• No Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurers will no longer be able to refuse coverage based on medical history.
• No Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurers will have to limit the charges they pass along to consumers each year in out-of-pocket costs.
• No Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurers must fully cover regular checkups and tests that help prevent illness.
• No Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurers can no longer drop policyholders or water down their insurance if they become seriously ill.
• No Gender Discrimination
• No Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurers will no longer be able to place yearly or lifetime caps on the medical care you receive.
• Extended Coverage for Young Adults: Young adults would be eligible to stay on their family’s plan through the age of 26.
• Guaranteed Insurance Renewal: Insurers can no longer refuse to renew a policy as long as the policyholder pays premiums in full.
The HELP Committee passed a health insurance reform bill with bipartisan input. More than 160 Republican amendments were accepted. Brown supports health insurance reform that includes the following elements:
• Guarantees choice of plan for consumers (which includes keeping current coverage) while providing consumers new, more affordable private and public insurance options;
• Reduces health care costs through market competition, stronger preventive services, better quality of care, and steps to root out fraud and abuse;
• Strengthens prevention and wellness programs for millions of Americans;
• Modernizes the health system and expands the health care workforce by investing in training for medical professionals and by better coordinating patient care;
• Improves long term care and services for elderly and disabled Americans.
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As I suspected his office had more control over the event than I was lead to believe... It wasn't a Private forum....it was a public one....kept from the general public except the "Healthcare reform now" and supporting groups....
Get wise folks the deception and backroom politics is going to get alot uglier in the weeks to come.
Columbus Townhall > Forum > Politics > National > Political Campaigns and Candidates (Moderators: Peter, CTH Public Relations)
Topic: Urgent! Sherrod Brown townhall meeting this morning Wednesday 8/12
