Michigan Hosts First Regional Health Care Forum

By: Brent Lang
Topics: Health Care

(CBS)

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle hosted the first White House-driven regional health care forum this afternoon in Dearborn, Michigan. The town hall meeting attracted doctors, legislators, patients, insurance providers and policy experts, who gathered in a part of the country that has been hard hit by the hemorrhaging of manufacturing jobs in recent months.

In a nod toward regional concerns, health care administrators from General Motors and Ford Motor Company argued at the forum that rising costs of health care had prevented the faltering companies from keeping up with foreign competitors.

The president did not attend, but the event kicked off with a recorded welcome from Mr. Obama, who stressed that ideas for reform should not only come from Washington. The event did have some Washington flavor, however. Granholm and Doyle were joined by Democratic congressmen John Dingell and John Conyers, Jr. and White House Domestic Policy Director Melody Barnes.

"Our economic house is on fire, and one of those reasons is the costs of the health care system," Barnes said in her introductory remarks.

Doyle, Granholm, and Barnes took turns moderating the discussion and inviting attendees to share their own stories and concerns. Though the personal stories of health care crisis differed, the guests in the room uniformly supported broad and sweeping reform focused on expanding access to the uninsured, improving medical records and emphasizing preventative care.

The event's moderators underscored what the Obama administration has been arguing in recent weeks – that health care reform is part and parcel of the country's economic recovery.

"In recognizing that we have to get across the finish line, making that economic argument is part of that," said Granholm.

While opening the forum, Barnes hailed the event as an opportunity for regular citizens to "speak truth to power." They took her up on the offer. Their calls for action were both passionate and strident.

"People are dying and they are suffering," said Sister Mary Ellen Howard, who runs a clinic at Detroit's Most Holy Trinity Church. "I walked through our waiting room before coming here where 50 uninsured people were waiting for care. I came here on their behalf. It's unconscionable, its criminal, and we have got to do something."

Regional forums also will be held in California, Iowa, North Carolina and Vermont.

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by Mi-Jeff August 12, 2010 10:23 AM EDT

Addressing the problem is always the first step. I however think some people are quick to blame insurance companies. In Michigan we have been fortunate to have BCBSM provide the states uninsurable with financial protection. It is the states own laws that prevent some insurance companies from issuing coverage. For example Michigan does not allow riders to be placed on health insurance policies. This forces companies to either accept the risk, or deny coverage. And as we know these companies are for profit, and accepting risk would jeopordize the actuarial data that provides low cost healthcare for the states otherwise healthier residents.

I am an insurance agent, so my point of view is no doubt biased on the side of free market insurance. I do however help everyday individuals find low cost alternatives to the increasing problem with healthcare costs. Consumer driven insurance has been a viable solution for alot of people, and its plans like these we need to look towards in the future. There is no easy fix to the problems we face, but casting blame on the insurance companies is in my opinion unfounded. We have to remember that insurance companies follow the laws of the land, we need to look here and see what kind of reform can be beneficial.

Agents and the like are mostly here to HELP families protect their financial future. If you want to discuss the topic, or need assistance in understanding alternative choices through consumer driven products, I am personally willing to help. www.lakeshoreinsuranceagency.com

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by Mi-Jeff August 12, 2010 10:27 AM EDT: I got so into the topic and trying to express my point of view, I butchered my own contact information.

I feel as residents of Michigan, we need to come together and share ideas, about how we can together solve the problem. It is bigger than Michigan, but through awareness and education we can hopefully come up with a better solution.

www.lakeshoreagency.com


by dsdseo5 April 28, 2010 12:36 PM EDT: Thats a good steps of Michigan Government to give the awareness of people about health care systems; Reply to this comment


by iam4honesty March 13, 2009 7:39 AM EDT: We will never be able to reform our health care system until the insurance companies are taken out of the equation. Big insurance and big pharm are the primary reason we have this mess.

Imagine trying to run a police department while gun manufacturers have an equal voice in what you do.; Reply to this comment


by katg21 March 12, 2009 9:45 PM EDT: TORT REFORM FIRST!!!!; Reply to this comment