Unfortunately, I live in this communist district. If given a chance what question do you think I should ask him.
Spratt to Hold Second and Third Town Meetings on Health Care
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) will hold his second and third town hall meetings on health care next week in Sumter and Rock Hill.
Spratt held his first town hall on health care in Rock Hill on July 2, with AARP. Since early August he has been recovering from foot surgery at his home in York. Over the past few months, Spratt has met with numerous constituents, the South Carolina Hospital Association, SC Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and a wide assortment of physician groups to hear their concerns about heath care reform.
The following town hall meetings have been scheduled for next week:
Sumter - New Location
Time: 5:00 pm
Date: Wednesday, September 2
Place: USC-Sumter - Nettles Building, 200 Miller Road
Rock Hill
Time: 5:00 pm
Date: Thursday, September 3
Place: York Technical College – Baxter Hood Center, 452 S. Anderson Road
At the meetings, priority seating will be given to residents of the 5th Congressional District of South Carolina. In addition, people who want to ask questions will be asked to write their name on an index card at the door and place the card in a box that most closely matches their position on health care reform – for, against, or undecided. During the question and answer session, names will be drawn from the boxes, one by one, and members of the audience will be called on to ask their question.
WRHI INTERVIEW
On August 26, Spratt spent 45 minutes talking about health care reform on WRHI Radio, Rock Hill, as a guest on Manning Kimmel’s “Straight Talk” program. Click here to listen to the broadcast.
STATEMENT ON HEALTH CARE REFORM
On August 13, Spratt issued the following statement on health care reform:
“I understand the sentiment of those who are calling us to say that they do not want their medical care delivered from Washington. But I also understand that 50% of all health care in this country is either paid for or provided through the federal government. That includes Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Tricare Standard, Tricare for Life, Veterans Health Care, Military Health Care, Indian Health Care, the Public Health Service, and the Federal Employees Benefit Program.
“Our health care system is in need of reform, but we need to be wary of the cost and complexity, and we should choose among the best proposals in the House, Senate, and White House. Over the last several weeks, I have supported a slow-down, because I think we need a longer period to search for better, more affordable solutions.
“We have the best health care in the world, bar none, but it is also the most costly, and access is not assured to the 46 million who lack insurance coverage. I believe we should close that gap, but I recognize the cost and complexity. That’s why I supported not voting until after the August recess. I want to see reform done right.
“Because of the complexity, neither the House nor the Senate has come forth with a final draft, and major differences separate the two. For instance, the House draft contains an employer mandate, requiring the employer either to pay a percentage of the employee’s premium cost or pay 8% of an employee’s wage into a health insurance fund. In the Senate bill, employer contributions are much smaller. I lean toward a lower-cost alternative.
“Both bills call for an insurance exchange, where individuals and smaller businesses have the advantage of competition. But the House bill contains a public insurance plan as one option in the insurance exchange. The purpose of the public option is to offer an alternative to private insurance and to have a yardstick to compare cost and coverage. Insurance companies oppose the public plan. They claim that it will be impossible to compete if the government subsidizes the public insurance policy. Sponsors say subsidies will be excluded. A public policy enacted as a backup, which is triggered into being only if the cost of private coverage escalates beyond certain benchmarks, may be a compromise.
“The Office of Management and Budget has proposed a Super-MedPac with rate-making and regulatory authority over Medicare and Medicaid. One of its purposes is to save money in these programs to pay for coverage of the uninsured. I understand the need for strong administration, and one empowered to hold costs in line when Congress will not, but I think the Super-MedPac may be a bit too powerful.
“When we wrote the budget resolution for fiscal year 2010, we required that the cost be deficit-neutral, so that every dollar spent is offset by a dollar saved. While the House proposal will be fully offset, a little more than half of the House proposal would be offset by savings in the existing health care program. I want to see even more of the cost offset by savings in the health care system.
“Three House committees have jurisdiction over health care, and they have converged on a health care reform bill, but the tri-committee draft could not muster enough votes to be reported to the House floor, until concessions were made. In the Senate, two committees have jurisdiction, and they have yet to reach consensus. So, health care reform is very much a work in progress.
“At a time like this, nothing is worse than to be on the sidelines, but four months ago, I scheduled surgery for repair of what turned out to be an Achilles tendon, shredded by a big bone spur on my right heel. I could not have the surgery until the August recess because of the weeks required for healing. During this time, I have been directed to stay off my feet as much as possible, and to put no weight on my right foot. I had a town hall meeting, sponsored by the AARP, in July, and over the months, I have met with numerous constituents, the South Carolina Hospital Association, with SC Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and with a wide assortment of physician groups to hear their concerns about a public policy. I need to set up other meetings, especially with individual constituents, and we will do so, as soon as my recovery is completed.”
Spratt to Hold Second and Third Town Meetings on Health Care
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) will hold his second and third town hall meetings on health care next week in Sumter and Rock Hill.
Spratt held his first town hall on health care in Rock Hill on July 2, with AARP. Since early August he has been recovering from foot surgery at his home in York. Over the past few months, Spratt has met with numerous constituents, the South Carolina Hospital Association, SC Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and a wide assortment of physician groups to hear their concerns about heath care reform.
The following town hall meetings have been scheduled for next week:
Sumter - New Location
Time: 5:00 pm
Date: Wednesday, September 2
Place: USC-Sumter - Nettles Building, 200 Miller Road
Rock Hill
Time: 5:00 pm
Date: Thursday, September 3
Place: York Technical College – Baxter Hood Center, 452 S. Anderson Road
At the meetings, priority seating will be given to residents of the 5th Congressional District of South Carolina. In addition, people who want to ask questions will be asked to write their name on an index card at the door and place the card in a box that most closely matches their position on health care reform – for, against, or undecided. During the question and answer session, names will be drawn from the boxes, one by one, and members of the audience will be called on to ask their question.
WRHI INTERVIEW
On August 26, Spratt spent 45 minutes talking about health care reform on WRHI Radio, Rock Hill, as a guest on Manning Kimmel’s “Straight Talk” program. Click here to listen to the broadcast.
STATEMENT ON HEALTH CARE REFORM
On August 13, Spratt issued the following statement on health care reform:
“I understand the sentiment of those who are calling us to say that they do not want their medical care delivered from Washington. But I also understand that 50% of all health care in this country is either paid for or provided through the federal government. That includes Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Tricare Standard, Tricare for Life, Veterans Health Care, Military Health Care, Indian Health Care, the Public Health Service, and the Federal Employees Benefit Program.
“Our health care system is in need of reform, but we need to be wary of the cost and complexity, and we should choose among the best proposals in the House, Senate, and White House. Over the last several weeks, I have supported a slow-down, because I think we need a longer period to search for better, more affordable solutions.
“We have the best health care in the world, bar none, but it is also the most costly, and access is not assured to the 46 million who lack insurance coverage. I believe we should close that gap, but I recognize the cost and complexity. That’s why I supported not voting until after the August recess. I want to see reform done right.
“Because of the complexity, neither the House nor the Senate has come forth with a final draft, and major differences separate the two. For instance, the House draft contains an employer mandate, requiring the employer either to pay a percentage of the employee’s premium cost or pay 8% of an employee’s wage into a health insurance fund. In the Senate bill, employer contributions are much smaller. I lean toward a lower-cost alternative.
“Both bills call for an insurance exchange, where individuals and smaller businesses have the advantage of competition. But the House bill contains a public insurance plan as one option in the insurance exchange. The purpose of the public option is to offer an alternative to private insurance and to have a yardstick to compare cost and coverage. Insurance companies oppose the public plan. They claim that it will be impossible to compete if the government subsidizes the public insurance policy. Sponsors say subsidies will be excluded. A public policy enacted as a backup, which is triggered into being only if the cost of private coverage escalates beyond certain benchmarks, may be a compromise.
“The Office of Management and Budget has proposed a Super-MedPac with rate-making and regulatory authority over Medicare and Medicaid. One of its purposes is to save money in these programs to pay for coverage of the uninsured. I understand the need for strong administration, and one empowered to hold costs in line when Congress will not, but I think the Super-MedPac may be a bit too powerful.
“When we wrote the budget resolution for fiscal year 2010, we required that the cost be deficit-neutral, so that every dollar spent is offset by a dollar saved. While the House proposal will be fully offset, a little more than half of the House proposal would be offset by savings in the existing health care program. I want to see even more of the cost offset by savings in the health care system.
“Three House committees have jurisdiction over health care, and they have converged on a health care reform bill, but the tri-committee draft could not muster enough votes to be reported to the House floor, until concessions were made. In the Senate, two committees have jurisdiction, and they have yet to reach consensus. So, health care reform is very much a work in progress.
“At a time like this, nothing is worse than to be on the sidelines, but four months ago, I scheduled surgery for repair of what turned out to be an Achilles tendon, shredded by a big bone spur on my right heel. I could not have the surgery until the August recess because of the weeks required for healing. During this time, I have been directed to stay off my feet as much as possible, and to put no weight on my right foot. I had a town hall meeting, sponsored by the AARP, in July, and over the months, I have met with numerous constituents, the South Carolina Hospital Association, with SC Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and with a wide assortment of physician groups to hear their concerns about a public policy. I need to set up other meetings, especially with individual constituents, and we will do so, as soon as my recovery is completed.”
