The rural health care summit in Crookston is fascinating: nearly everyone in the room is involved in providing health care for rural areas or studying how to improve health care delivery in rural areas. Right now, we're listening to Carleton Rider, Senior Administrator for the Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center, discuss its Health Care Policy Reform Recommendations:
Universal insurance coverage
Provide health insurance and access to basic health care for all Americans -- regardless of their ability to pay.
- Eliminate employer-based insurance. Allow companies to finance a portion of their workers' health care expenses and promote employee wellness in the workplace.
- Require individual ownership of health insurance, with sliding-scale subsidies for people with lower incomes.
- Appoint an independent health board (similar to the Federal Reserve) to define essential health care services. Allow people to purchase more services or insurance, if desired.
- Create a simple mechanism (similar to the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan) to offer private insurance packages to buyers.
Interesting stuff at the site beyond just health insurance issues. Go take a look.
In the newspapers today, the Albert Lea Tribune reports Mayo doctor announces 1st District candidacy. What does the Mayo doctor say about health care reform? According to the article:
Davis said while he thinks the health care system in the United States has produced more medical advances than any other country, he would be against a universal health care system — especially one that is government-run.
He also outlined his views on the IRaq War, immigration, and global warming for the paper:
Regarding the war in Iraq, he said he thinks the government should rely on the military leaders who are actually over in Iraq, rather then make big decisions without listening to their opinions.
He does not agree with a rapid troop withdrawal from Iraq.
Switching to illegal immigration, Davis said he thinks it is “a hidden tax on the middle class” because it works to drive down wages for the middle class and drive up cost for social services.
“I’m against amnesty for illegal aliens, and I’ll be very clear about that,” he said.
Regarding global warming, Davis said it is unquestionable that the world is seeing a modest amount of global warming; however, what this is resulting from is where the real questions lie.
“I don’t think the evidence is there to prove the evidence is due to human activity,” he said.
So to shut down the nation’s industrial economy or to hamper it in any way because of some theories could be a problem, he said.
Congressman Walz was in town, the Tribune reports in Tim Walz speaks to A.L. Lions Club. A taste:
First District Congressman Tim Walz recapped his first seven months in Congress Thursday to a crowd of about 35 Albert Lea Lions Club members at the Elks Lodge.
Explaining some of the legislation he worked to bring forward, while also defining what he thinks his responsibilities are as a congressman, Walz said he is proud of some of the changes that happened this year in the U.S. House of Representatives.
He said he thinks his responsibilities are to work with elected officials — especially on the local level — to make sure transparency is back in government and to be easily accessible to his constituents.
In the New Ulm Journal, a letter writer thanks the paper for covering the global warming forum that Tim Walz attended with others in Steger’s urgent message.
Lunch is served; we'll be back later.
UPDATE: Nurse Jason Bauman at IDHA responds to a conservative blogger taking up Dr. Davis' cause in Dr. Brian Davis, candidate against Walz is questioned.
Dr. Davis is exactly the candidate that the voters need to hear. Like Tom Tancredo who I would like to see get the Republican nomination, they provide a definitive contrast between sane, progressive resolutions to problems and the society-dividing idealogy of the Neo- and Theo-Conservatives.
Posted by: Minnesota Central | August 17, 2007 at 12:47 PM