New Paltz & Vicinity: Health Care Committee Report

(This is a report prepared by Albert Cook, submitted to the Obama-Biden transition team.)

To:        Obama-Biden Transition Project – Health Care
Subject:    Health Care Community Discussion – New Paltz, NY

The meeting was held from 7 PM to 9 PM on December 28th, 2008, at the Plaza Diner, Stop & Shop Plaza, and Jan. 8th at the Suruchi Restaurant, 5 Church St, both in New Paltz, NY 12561

Seven people attended the 1st mtg, five people attended the 2nd and four others submitted information through e-mail.  Concerns, experiences and ideas are summarized below.

1)    Cost of current health care system (5 of 16 people highly concerned).
a)    In addition to those who were deeply concerned all participants generally felt costs were too high, threatening:
i)    those on a pension
ii)    corporations
iii)    working family budgets
b)    Rising costs and poor economy are causing many to have high deductible policies making them reluctant to seek early treatment.
c)    Many agreed that trauma health care is excellent, but the cost was high.

2)    Overuse of medical testing by doctors because of malpractice concerns and standard protocols. (3 of 16 – 3rd  concern)

3)    Pre-existing conditions: (7 of 16 people felt strongly about this)
a)    Should be covered.
b)    Should not be used as a condition of eligibility or as reason for disqualification
c)    Loop holes, such as illnesses becoming pre-existing if HC is dropped for 65 days, should be eliminated.

4)    Health care approach
a)    Virtually all participants favored a single-payer solution, looking on Health Care as a right.
b)    Employer based health care was looked on as a relic of the past and very restricting, it also makes it difficult for small employers to compete for employees.
c)    Large health care costs and employer plans create a competitive handicap for U. S. companies (3 of 16).
d)    Existing systems, such as Medicare, have eligible persons waiting up to 2 years before coverage begins… unacceptable
e)    House bill HR676 was identified as a good starting point (5 of 16 people)
f)    Insurance Companies should not be a part of the Health Care system, or at least remove the profit incentive from Health Care.
g)    Options in Medicare should be reduced from hundreds to 3 to 4

5)    Preventive Care:
a)    Most felt that more weight should be given to illness prevention.
i)    Lifestyle changes
ii)    Environmental controls
iii)    Less invasive treatments

6)    Alternative Approaches / Medicines
a)    Holistic medicines mentioned by most as effective and deserving of inclusion as a medical tool (8 of 16 people)
b)    Should be considered as normal options.
c)    Should be covered by paying entity
d)    Should be added to medical training curriculum

7)    Current restrictions and limitations
a)   Several people voiced support for the Health Freedom Access agenda (4 of 16)
b)   Extreme concern was voiced about allowing CODEX to become effective. (4 of 16)
c)   Several people wanted assurance that Mental Illness received parity with Physical Illness

8)    Quality of Care
a)    Set minimum levels
b)    Consider withholding payment until results are reflected in status of patient

9)    Drug regulatory concerns.
a)    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should be replaced or dismantled, because it has become a tool of the drug industry and frequently is part of the problem causing high cost, lack of availability and delay.

•    The order of the topics (1 thru 9) do not reflect an order of priority or importance.
•    Participants desire to continue to meeting.