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SOURCE: Lincoln Journal-Star
By Ben Nelson
Over the last few weeks, I hosted six town hall style meetings across our state to discuss health care reform with Nebraskans, the latest of hundreds of individual and small group meetings I've had on health care since I was elected in 2000.
These town halls were a valuable exercise in Democracy and personally valuable because the civil, thoughtful and wide-ranging discussions enabled me to better understand Nebraskans' views at this critical time. I plan to hold additional meetings in the weeks to come as Congress continues to debate this important issue.
Despite all the divisive talk we hear from interest groups and the politics-as-usual crowd, there were underlying areas of consensus at my public meetings. Nearly everyone believed that our health care system is broken and that something needs to be done.
I heard from small business owners upset that they can't afford to insure their employees, while others raised concerns about the solvency of Medicare, the quality of their health care and especially how much health care costs today. No wonder, since the average Nebraska family's health insurance premium rose 69 percent from 2000 to 2007, while the median salary rose only 21 percent over that same period with inflation consuming those wages at a rate of 19 percent.
It is no surprise, then, that medical debt is the primary cause of personal bankruptcy today.
Although passions ran high, I was proud that Nebraskans brought their differing ideas to these public forums. Reflecting on the meetings, I see a path forward that relies on Nebraska common sense.
First, we must continue working at this point to develop a bipartisan bill. In my view, bipartisan legislation translates to better legislation and incorporates broader policy solutions to today's health care problems. Many people are rightfully leery of government. It will be difficult to achieve a bipartisan bill. But it will be even harder to push through a purely partisan bill.
Second, we can target health care reform that will deliver for all Nebraskans, and all Americans. We all stand to gain by - and broad support already exists for - improving prevention and wellness; investing in our health care work force of doctors, nurses and medical technicians; and adding better incentives to a flawed delivery system that currently rewards quantity over quality or service. Similar agreement has emerged on simplifying the marketplace so that consumers can easily compare health insurance plans, provider networks, premiums, and out-of-pocket spending to increase competition and empower Americans to make informed decisions.
Bipartisan support for removing barriers to coverage is another area of common ground. If we can eliminate pre-existing condition exclusions and break the practice of sharply raising premiums on people who develop health problems, we can ensure stable insurance coverage throughout each of our lives. Many also want to provide coverage to Americans who truly cannot obtain it today, either on the moral view that such a rich nation should do so, or from a financial view that it will curb the cost shift created when the uninsured are treated in emergency rooms leading to uncompensated care and premium increases for everyone else.
When Congress reconvenes next week, I hope colleagues return from home with a greater sense that this target is within reach. By shedding disagreements and focusing on practical health care reforms we also can cast aside lingering fears of a government takeover, runaway deficit spending, tax increases, or coverage for abortions or illegal immigrants.
I want to thank Nebraskans who have shared their views with me and to assure you I will take your views to Washington, I'll continue listening and that I will work for health reform that keeps spending under control, helps small business, enhances care, reins in costs and works well for Nebraskans.
Ben Nelson, a Democrat, is Nebraska's senior U.S. senator.
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