A few days after his embarrassing performance, I called Carnahan's office to register my opinion on the so-called healthcare reform. My opinion was from the heart, and delivered politely to the staffer on the phone. I related how my kids have benefitted greatly from world-class care at St. Louis Children's Hospital. How we've had multiple EEGs and MRIs (our daughter has epilespy), always quickly and efficiently. We've had gotten quick relief for our son's chronic ear infections (he had ear tube surgery). And had first-class treatment at the CARES clinic after multiple trips to the ER for seizures - appreciative of not having to wait in line behind the non-emergency cases using the ER as primary care. But it's not free, and we don't expect it to be. We pay handsomely for health insurance for our three kids, and it is worth every penny. My wife and I work second jobs to help pay for it.
I related to the staffer that my brother-in-law, a Canadian, tells me stories of relatives and friends suffering under Canada's socialized medicine: a two-month wait to start radiation treatment after cancer diagnosis, 6 month wait for minor surgery, 8-month waits to see a specialist, and the generally deplorable morale of physicians and health care workers. "I don't want that for my kids", I told him. "They deserve better than lowest-common-denominator health care as long as I can afford it."
He thanked me for my opinion and hung up the phone.
And today I got this miserable form letter [emphasis mine]:
_____
Dear Mr. Roth:
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about health care. I appreciate hearing from you, and I would like to take this opportunity to explain why I think reforming the health care system is so important.
[...]
As I was reminded once again at the St. Louis town hall meetings I held in April and this week, health care reform is one of the most pressing issues affecting Missouri families and the economy. The average Missourian spends nearly $5,500 a year on health care, and over 750,000 Missourians lack health insurance. We need to eradicate the shortfall of coverage while reducing costs and maintaining the quality of health care for those who can afford it now. If done properly, more Americans will be able to access better health care, and our economy will be more competitive.
[...]
I want to be very clear about what health care reform should and should not mean for your health care coverage. Most importantly, if you like the coverage you have now, you can keep it. I will not support measures that will force people to give up their private health insurance in favor of a government-run plan, and doctors and nurses will always make important medical decisions. In addition, I think that reforms should aim to make health insurance portable. This means that if you like the coverage you have and change jobs, you can keep your coverage. By making it easier for workers to change jobs, our economy will become more competitive. Finally, I believe that individuals with pre-existing medical conditions should be able to obtain health insurance. It is wrong to deny coverage to individuals on the basis of health conditions that they may have been unable to avoid.
[...]
Finally, I believe it is important to consider including a public health insurance option that could help jump start health care reforms to reduce costs, maintain fiscal sustainability and improve the quality of care. A self-sustaining public health insurance option will offer choice to individuals and businesses and will compete with private health insurers to drive down costs. Any proposed public health plan option will not replace the private insurance market, and you will not be required to choose it if you like the coverage you have now. Rather, it is intended to extend coverage and create better healthcare options for more Americans, especially the uninsured.
Reforming our broken health care system is essential to getting our economy back on track. Expanding access to affordable, quality health care coverage has long been an important goal, and we cannot afford to delay this effort any longer. Health care reform will strengthen the middle class, help businesses remain competitive and create 21st century jobs.
The president has asked for health care legislation to reach his desk by October. I am working with my colleagues in both parties to reach that goal. Recently, several leading members of the House introduced H.R. 3200, a comprehensive piece of health care legislation that expands health care coverage to 97% of Americans. There are also several draft bills currently being discussed in the Senate. I am thoroughly reviewing each of these proposals to determine if they meet the criteria outlined above. To read and to learn more about H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act, please visit the website of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
Once again, thank you for contacting my office. Please know that I will keep your views in mind as Congress continues this crucial debate, and please do not hesitate to contact me in the future on this or any other issue.
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about health care. I appreciate hearing from you, and I would like to take this opportunity to explain why I think reforming the health care system is so important.
[...]
As I was reminded once again at the St. Louis town hall meetings I held in April and this week, health care reform is one of the most pressing issues affecting Missouri families and the economy. The average Missourian spends nearly $5,500 a year on health care, and over 750,000 Missourians lack health insurance. We need to eradicate the shortfall of coverage while reducing costs and maintaining the quality of health care for those who can afford it now. If done properly, more Americans will be able to access better health care, and our economy will be more competitive.
[...]
I want to be very clear about what health care reform should and should not mean for your health care coverage. Most importantly, if you like the coverage you have now, you can keep it. I will not support measures that will force people to give up their private health insurance in favor of a government-run plan, and doctors and nurses will always make important medical decisions. In addition, I think that reforms should aim to make health insurance portable. This means that if you like the coverage you have and change jobs, you can keep your coverage. By making it easier for workers to change jobs, our economy will become more competitive. Finally, I believe that individuals with pre-existing medical conditions should be able to obtain health insurance. It is wrong to deny coverage to individuals on the basis of health conditions that they may have been unable to avoid.
[...]
Finally, I believe it is important to consider including a public health insurance option that could help jump start health care reforms to reduce costs, maintain fiscal sustainability and improve the quality of care. A self-sustaining public health insurance option will offer choice to individuals and businesses and will compete with private health insurers to drive down costs. Any proposed public health plan option will not replace the private insurance market, and you will not be required to choose it if you like the coverage you have now. Rather, it is intended to extend coverage and create better healthcare options for more Americans, especially the uninsured.
Reforming our broken health care system is essential to getting our economy back on track. Expanding access to affordable, quality health care coverage has long been an important goal, and we cannot afford to delay this effort any longer. Health care reform will strengthen the middle class, help businesses remain competitive and create 21st century jobs.
The president has asked for health care legislation to reach his desk by October. I am working with my colleagues in both parties to reach that goal. Recently, several leading members of the House introduced H.R. 3200, a comprehensive piece of health care legislation that expands health care coverage to 97% of Americans. There are also several draft bills currently being discussed in the Senate. I am thoroughly reviewing each of these proposals to determine if they meet the criteria outlined above. To read and to learn more about H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act, please visit the website of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
Once again, thank you for contacting my office. Please know that I will keep your views in mind as Congress continues this crucial debate, and please do not hesitate to contact me in the future on this or any other issue.
Russ Carnahan
_______
This letter was seemingly drafted in a vacuum, long before his embarrassing town hall meeting. Look, everyone knows that Carnahan's a pawn with little leverage to buck the party line. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt that he'll "keep [my] views in mind as Congress continues this crucial debate." And that he is actually "thoroughly reviewing each of these proposals." But then I would have thought he'd have learned something during his brief stay at the Community College. I guess not.
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