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3 members of Tucson medical community weigh in on healthcare

Posted: Nov 9, 2009 9:48 PM
Updated: Nov 9, 2009 9:48 PM

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The healthcare reform bill is now in the hands of the Senate. In a tight vote, the House of Representatives passed the sweeping healthcare reform bill late Saturday night.

It would require most Americans to carry insurance, providing federal subsidies to those who can't afford it. Also, large companies would have to offer coverage to employees. The goal of the program is so that everyone pays into the system, reducing the cost per individual, similar to the way that auto insurance is mandated to anyone that wishes to drive.

People in the Tucson healthcare community, are chiming-in with mixed reaction.

Pain specialist Dr. Bennet Davis wrote a letter urging Congressman Gabriel Giffords to vote no.

"We have people in the physician community here in Southern Arizona who would like to see a government system, who would like to see a single payer and people who are totally at the other end of the spectrum."

Davis says politicians need to focus on the long term healthcare goals healthcare instead of squabbling over details.

"Healthcare reform is a journey. We're trying to get from where we are now, which is not good, to a new place. The trouble is, we haven't decided what that new place looks like."

Letty Ramirez at Carondelet Health Network say the bill passed by congress Saturday coincides closer with their principals, "That all individuals should have 100% access to care and 100% coverage.

Ramirez says it's important our nation tackle this issue now, "We are very supportive of the healthcare reform process. This is our opportunity to be able to do something significant for those who are most in need"

Dr. Jane Orient is the managing editor of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, and has been outspoken against Obama's healthcare plan for quite sometime. She spoke at a South Dakota Tea Party rally (video) and her organization publishes a press kit titled, "Stop Obamacare: education and press kit."

She's outraged hr 3962 passed through the house, "It made me somewhat sick. I think this is a disaster for American medicine."

She says that we shouldn't believe politicians who say this bill will make healthcare more affordable,"It's going to make medical care much more expensive. The worst feature is, it's going to force people to buy insurance whether they can afford it or not. I don't believe there is anything in it that is helpful."

The senate's vote on its version of the bill is not expected until at least December.

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