Health care changes start soon; major ones later
Some disagree with legislation, others think it’s good idea but have their reservations
By Michael A. Sawyers
Cumberland Times-News
March 23, 2010
CUMBERLAND — Local reaction to the congressional passage late Sunday of a health care reform bill mimicked the diverse opinion playing out at the national level.
“It wasn’t studied enough and we will not realize the ramifications of it until we are well down the road,” said Kolin Jan, pointing out that he was speaking for himself and not the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce over which he presides.
“We are trying to make health care a right. I don’t believe it is a right such as the pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Jan said.
“It may sound cruel, but from time immemorial the people who could afford health care are the ones who got it,” Jan added. “We are looking to government for too many answers.”
Jan said he doesn’t believe it is his responsibility to take care of people who have decided they are better off being a “druggie or drunk.” He said less and less individual accountability and responsibility seems to be exercised as time goes by.
Dr. Wayne Spiggle, a physician as well as a Mineral County, W.Va., commissioner, however, believes health care is a right.
“I’m glad it passed,” Spiggle said. “For the first time, the United States has joined the rest of the industrial world to agree that health care is a right and not a privilege.”
Spiggle, though, has many concerns.
“The bill is flawed in that we have maintained private insurers as being our health care arbiters. It also does nothing that I can see to keep the pharmaceutical companies from charging what the market will bear.”
Spiggle said the answer lies in a publicly-funded, privately-operated system such as is used for Medicare and Medicaid.
“We will eventually get there and that will give us a system where there are no co-pays, no deductibles and it will cover our medication, glasses, hearing and long-term care. Those are the services that other countries have. And it will save $500 billion.”
Bill Duvall is the business representative for Carpenters Local 1024.
DuVall said Monday he sees bright spots in the passage of the bill, but wonders what the exact cost to taxpayers will be.
“Is it truly going to be a savings to taxpayers or a large tax increase? Hopefully it won’t be a disastrous piece of legislation.”
DuVall said that the insuring of millions of people who currently do not have health coverage is a good thing.
“And if it pays the costs for medication for seniors, that’s good. That’s something I’d be willing to pay for,” he said.
“This will be a hot-button issue for the upcoming elections,” DuVall said. “It has been interesting to watch it unfold. Politicians who were once against it are now for it and some who were for it are now against it.”
Adina Brode, director of Garrett County’s Area Agency on Aging, said she is extremely pleased that the reform will close what is known as the “doughnut hole,” a situation whereby senior citizens must begin to pay for their medications after a certain dollar amount has been reached.
“From a personal level, I feel health care for the uninsured is long overdue,” Brode said. “Anything we get in that regard at this point is good, but I realize we are looking at a work in progress.
“At least this is a starting point. If we don’t have some change we will continue to have a lot of uninsured people. This legislation will assist those who need it the most.”
Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.