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After meeting with several thousand Nebraskans statewide during a half dozen public meetings in August, I came away with a number of thoughts that I will take back to Washington with me, not the least of which is Nebraskans are on the edge of their seats over health care reform.
Anxiety over what to expect is why passions often run high surrounding the issue of health care reform, especially since people have heard a lot of myths and twisted facts during this debate. That said, most Nebraskans I have heard from want the same thing – cost containment without undermining the health coverage they now have or ending up worse off.
Protecting Your Interests
At each public meeting I carried my dog-eared copy of the six hundred-plus page bill so I could answer questions. People applauded when they found out I had read the bill, but they certainly didn’t need to because, after all, it’s my job to carefully analyze legislation. However, I was pleased it gave them a sense of comfort that I was following the process closely in order to protect their interests.
Most of the Nebraskans at the public meetings did not want to see an increase in taxes or the deficit, they would like to see a slowdown in the rise of insurance premiums, and they don’t want socialized medicine.
Incentives to Improve Health
One part of the HELP Committee bill that the majority who attended public meetings did favor dealt with wellness. They liked the idea of incentives to encourage individuals to lead a healthier lifestyle which in turn reduces costs.
One of my favorite examples of this involves a large Nebraska-based company that is self insured. A survey showed that 51 percent of its workers smoked. To reduce that number they started offering incentives that lowered insurance premiums if they stopped smoking and did other things to improve their health. It worked. The number of smokers went from 51 percent to 11 percent and their insurance premiums went down.
Tort Reform
Many people at the meetings around Nebraska were interested in tort reform to reduce the number of medical malpractice lawsuits which would help reduce costs. This is something near and dear to my heart because Nebraska has what is arguably the toughest laws in the country. It happened in 1976 under the direction of then Governor Jim Exon, when I was his state insurance director. I helped craft the legislation that has held down costs for patients and physicians, reduced frivolous lawsuits and helped recruit top-quality health care providers to our state. Nationally, something needs to be done but it should not weaken Nebraska’s law.
I didn’t hear from anyone who favored reconciliation, which would jam a bill through Congress using a one-party majority, and I agree. Whatever bill finally emerges should have bipartisan support in order to provide relief for every American.
Something does need to be done to reform our health care system, if for no other reason than to control costs that are rising at an unsustainable pace, so I’ll keep fighting on behalf of Nebraskans and encouraging a bipartisan process which incorporates the best of all reform ideas.
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