Obama Enlists Doctors for Health Care Fight

(AP)

Updated 2:39 p.m. ET

Surrounded by doctors from around the country, President Obama pushed his health care reform efforts in the White House Rose Garden today, saying that the physicians in attendance "understand that their jobs would be a lot easier if we finally reformed our system of health insurance."

The president covered well-trod ground in his address, pressing the importance of cutting costs, ending unfair insurance practices and eliminating paperwork and red tape. From the White House's perspective, perhaps more important than the familiar words were the attendees: Doctors pointedly decked out in white lab coats.

The unmistakable message of the event was that all sorts of doctors – those from "red states, blue states, recalcitrant states, high-cost states, low-cost states, rural and urban states," as Mr. Obama said – are on board with the president's plan. The gathering of doctors from around the country appeared designed to feed local newspaper reports about how a particular doctor from a particular community backs reform efforts, as well as television news images.

The White House said the group "Doctors for America," which advocates health care reform, distributed the labs coats to the doctors.

"At this point, we've heard all the arguments on both sides of the aisle," the president said. "We have listened to every charge and every counter-charge, from the crazy claims about death panels to misleading warnings about a government takeover of our health care system."

"But when you cut through all the noise and all the distractions that are out there, I think what's most telling is that some of the people who are most supportive of reform are the very medical professionals who know the health care system best: the doctors and nurses of America," he argued.

Countering the claims of Republican critics, Mr. Obama said that "these men and women here would not be supporting health insurance reform if they really believed that it would lead to government bureaucrats making decisions that are best left to doctors."

"They wouldn't be here today if they believed that reform in any way would damage the very critical and sacred doctor-patient relationship," he added.

5364098It should be noted that there is not currently a health care bill for these doctors to support – though, as the president pointed out, general principles have been established.

They include establishing laws against insurance companies denying coverage because of preexisting conditions or dropping or watering down coverage when someone gets sick; a ban on caps on insurance benefits; limits on out-of-pocket costs; mandated coverage of routine checkups and preventive care; a move to digitize medical records; and the creation of "a new insurance exchange, a marketplace where individuals and small businesses can shop for an affordable health insurance plan that works for them."

Shortly after the event, the Republican National Committee emailed reporters a Wall Street Journal editorial from three former presidents of the American Medical Association in which they complained that by inviting only supporters to the event Mr. Obama "missed an opportunity to learn more about the real issues facing patients and doctors and to formulate a plan that truly puts patients in control with doctors as trusted advisers."

"One easy reform would be to enable individuals to buy policies offered in any state, not just where they live," they write. "This will enhance competition. But more government-run health insurance will only lead to disaster."

The president closed his remarks with a blunt appeal to the doctors to push his reform efforts.

"You are the people who know the system best," he said. "You are the experts. Nobody has more credibility with the American people on this issue than you do. And so if you're willing to speak out strongly on behalf of the things you care about and what you see each and every day as you're serving patients all across the country, I'm confident we are going to get health reform passed this year."

The White House said there were 150 doctors present at the event, from all 50 states. Four doctors stood behind the president as he made his remarks.

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to approve its bill this week. It will then be reconciled with the more liberal bill put forth by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. At the same time, the House will work to put together a final version of its bill. Follow the progress here.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

[rhs648]

A lawyer once told me that a settlement isn't a good one unless each party walks away with something they want and neither party is totally happy. Perhaps, health care reform falls into that category, too. There are many things that can be done to improve health care. Everyone could gain some things yet no one may walk away totally happy.

[franklycriticalthinking]

I mean no disrespect to the issue at hand, but perhaps this plays into what has been going on in the US lately. 2 years of recession and the Gulf Arab states are in talks with China, Russia, Japan and France to dump the dollar. The other news agency is reporting on this. No one else is. What I want to point out is, forget this expensive overhaul of our medical insurance, and start concentrating on the economy. Billions and billions and billions are being spent and the only way to not spend a dime is to cut back on things like Medicare Advantage. We are Trillions in debt. China is supporting our debts. Our dollar is just paper now. Maybe that was the goal. Maybe taking our country down a few pegs is needed. But come on, what does this mean for us in general? How many ways will we be impacted! They say it would be better without the US consumer. OUCH! Something stinks about all of this, but I can't connect the lines yet. I know this much, we rely on other nations to buy our goods, and supposedly they relied on us for ours. I think China is loving this, The Gulf Arabs, are gleeful to present it, and our supposed friends Japan and France, well, who knows. While we are fighting over health care, the dynamics are changing. Where is the hope in all of this? Please, really, where is it?!

[rhs648]

robham777 - You probably already know the answer. If it works like private schools, you will pay both your taxes and the private school tuition. Parents who send their children to private schools have been lobbying for years for tax breaks if they send their children to private schools. Public school systems, other taxpayers, and politicians don't appear willing to give an inch and don't see anything wrong with people paying twice. The irony is that it cost public schools less when people send their children to private schools. Why would this be any different with goverment controlled health care?

[bienhoa1968]

Where were you people when George Bush took a surplus and turned into a depression. Have you ever heard of fighting a war(which you lied to start) but you did not include the cost of the war in the budget(Enron 101 accounting, Ken Lay was GW's hero). Ken Lay was convicted, why wasn't George Bush???????

[rhs648]

slownewsday_5 - The medical field offers unbelievable opportunities. You can have your own practice, work for someone else, work for insurance companies, teach, do research, work for pharmaceutical companies, and the list goes on. Not every doctor wants a private practice. Some don't even see patients but become radiologists or researchers. Generally, the highest paid doctors have private practices and often work the hardest. My son is a physician who sees 35 to 40 patients per day. He often works 10 and 12 hour days. He spends many long evenings and weekends on patient charts, filing out complicated health insurance forms, trying to collect money from patients, and dealing with personnel matters. He earns a very good living but works very hard for it.

[rhs648]

bienhoa1968 - Did you see the article last week in the Washington Post? The French are not without their own problems. The cost of government health care is increasing their deficit at an alarming rate. The government can't raise monthly paycheck deductions fast enough and they are lowering reimbursements from 80% to 65%. Interesting, private health plans to supplement government insurance are becoming very popular in France. Thirty-three per cent of worker income goes toward health care. Again, this was in the Washington Post. Is this a reason not to reform health care in the United States. No. It does mean that even the French are experiencing problems with their health care system.

[reveal5]

Why do some continue to oppose reform when reform means lower prices, better care, and lower costs? I'm a democrat, but it does not blind me. Some seem incapable of recognition of the truth. Some are simply faked out by radio talk shows. Some are incapable of seeking beyond the canned jibberish of talk radio. Some are incapable of realization that reform means the average Joe will pay less if reform passes. Some will not understand that reform will stop insurance companies from doubling your rates in the next ten years. Some will not comprehend that reform means being able to look at all the coverages available in your area with clearly stated costs. Some won't see that reform means that seniors will receive best treatment methods which means better care, faster recoveries, ans lower costs. Some can't understand that reform means that a person will always have affordable, quality medical care. Some don't care that reform will provide medical care to millions and millions of Americans who can't get medical care now. Some will fail to realize that reform means that insurance companies won't be able to dump you if you get sick and that insurance companies will not be able to triple your medical bills if reform passes. Reform will ensure that your insurance company can't drop you if you get sick, or double your premiums, or deny you coverage, and that the cost of medical care will shrink if reform passes. Some can't understand these things even though these things are understandable.

[robham777]

It might be that some of us knuckle daggers just can not understand how a public program which will only cover 5% of the population can reduce the cost of medical coverage for the other 95%. Now if you want to say that a much broader reform might impact a majority of Americans that is plausible, but to tie the public option (which it has been stated here over and over again will only benefit approx. 5%) as the crux of meaningful reform just seems a little dramatic.

[wdh3007]

Doctors don't want a public option either if this president thinks that socilaized medicine is better than what we have now then he can go to Cuba for his medical treatments. We should also get the lawyers out of the health care business to many lawsuits hurts the current system.

[gomzee69]

Dorctors don't want a public option because they'd lose money. Competitive healthcare means less money in their pockets.

Not all Docs, but a majority of them. The REAL PHYSICIANS want whats best for their patients.

I know how E.R. Docs, R.N.'s and EMT's feel.

[reveal5]

The majority of doctors support the public health insurance option...60 to 70% of doctors of a broad range of specialties, practices, and all across America support the public health insurance option.

[gomzee69]

WE KNOW WHAT THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS....SINGLE PAYER - GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE.
_________

Which would be better, but I'll take a public option instead. And those of us who have insurance get to keep our current coverage.

[gomzee69]

Again, I ask, who pays for the healthcare of those who aren't covered, for whatever reason, right now?

WE DO!

People who don't have insurance go to emergency rooms, and WE PAY FOR THAT.
.
The public option would cover them, and would be cheaper in the long run

[gboyd41]

Please, do not take this photo-op today as indicating that all/majority of doctors support this agenda. A goodly number of physicians I have spoken with do not support this program-i.e., a public option. Where are the doctors/NP's to take care of the extra millions of patients-of which the govt. will pay medicare rates or less; rates at which they can barely keep their doors open? I can just see physicians lining up for more work and less pay.