Tyler

By COSHANDRA DILLARD
Staff Writer

Dozens of citizens voiced their opinions and concerns about health care reform Thursday night during a "house call" forum as representatives from the Texas Medical Association, the Smith County Medical Society and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert listened.

About 500 people filed into an auditorium at Robert E. Lee High School to discuss current issues. While the majority of the crowd was strongly against a public option, which is being proposed by House democrats, there were some speakers who showed their support for the plan.

Dr. Bohn Allen, former president of TMA, explained to the crowd that they held the forum because their vision is to "improve the health of all Texans," but noted the organization is not in favor of one particular plan. He explained that there are 16 amendments to five different bills in relation to health care reform.

"The TMA doesn't endorse or reject any specific plan or bill," he said. "We still have plenty of time to voice our concerns or our support for different elements that may come out."

He added, "First and foremost, we want to preserve the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship."

Physicians at the forum said they wanted a plan that would increase access to health care for everyone and they all noted that doing nothing is not an option.

TMA representatives said the federal government should take notes from Texas legislators, who passed a tort reform in 2003, which is said to have increased patients' access to health care.

One by one, people from the audience stood at a microphone to pose a question or talk about their own health care situation. Some expressed fear of waiting in long lines "like they do in England or Canada," while others expressed their fears over interference of health care from the federal government, losing the right to have autism treatment for children, the cost of a public option and fear that the system would allow illegal immigrants to receive care.

One audience member said, "What I value most about the current system is the ability to see my physician quickly. I don't want to go to Canada to get my heath care. What concerns me is that the government will jeopardize my liberties. Of all of the details, staying free is the most important thing."

Cecilia Bush addressed the audience in strong support of a public option. She said she recovered from what could have been a terminal illness but is left with thousands of dollars of health care bills each month. She said a public option should be made available to those who cannot afford it because all life is valuable.

"Tomorrow morning, take a look in the mirror and ask yourself this question," she told the audience. "Are you more valuable? Are you? � Eighteen-thousand people died last year because they didn't have insurance � I want to see health care for everyone before I die."

Several other supporters of a public option made it known in the auditorium and at least one person was booed.

Charles Parkes, 34, of Bullard addressed Gohmert about his personal fight to receive care for his wife, who he said was not given quality care at a hospital and is now "just dealing with the pain."

"I came here to hear what solutions are going to be offered," he said later. "Health care needs to be put back into the hands of doctors. I don't trust HMOs. The only difference in the government having (control) now and the private insurance companies is the government can be held accountable. With, HMOs you can get lost in the bureaucracy."

He added, "There is no other solution and it's a work in progress. I just hope they put the partisanship aside."

Gohmert, who received a standing ovation before and after the meeting, said in cases like Parkes, people would benefit more from a health savings account, which would ensure citizens have complete control. He said he has filed a 23-page bill that pushes for the health savings account and it also includes a provision that would make it illegal for illegal immigrants to receive health care.

He said people who are in support of a public option do not realize that it won't really be an option that would provide care for everyone.

"People that think the government is the answer are oblivious to the fact that the government right now is proposing cuts to Medicare payments, which means people like (a woman in the audience in favor of public option) would not be able to get the treatment that she needs."

He also said the haste to pass a health reform bill is due to the fear that it will not pass during an election year.

"Since the Bush bailout last fall, there has been so much money given to the executive branch to spend, however they want to, to provide finance incentives to get members of Congress to vote for bills they wouldn't vote for otherwise," he said.

Gohmert also warned that passing a public option gives the federal government a right to peer into citizens' businesses and personal medical records.

"They are going to study your business and make sure you are doing the right thing to stay profitable. They are going to have a right to tell you how to live."

Gohmert said, however, the so-called "death panels," in which doctors are encouraged to provide end-of-life counseling, were an "unfair characterization."

Gohmert said he has read some of H.R., 3200; a more than 1,000-page document that has already undergone many changes. He told the audience that he is fearful of a government-controlled health care plan.

"If the federal government controls health care, who do you go to when they are unfair?" he asked the audience.

HOT TOPIC: Patrons line up to speak at the Texas Medical Association health care meeting at Robert E. Lee High School on Thursday.
(Staff Photos By Herb Nygren Jr.)