As President Barack Obama discussed the heated topic of health care reform in Virginia today, government and health care leaders in Bakersfield came together for their own town hall meeting.
The forum was organized by Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, KGET TV-17 and Brighthouse Netowrks. 17 News' Robin Mangarin served as the moderator. There were several questions and concerns about President Obama's plan to overhaul health care, and Kern County residents are waiting for Congress and the president to give them answers.
Katie Young has been relied on Medicare for over 50 years but she doesn't always get the care she needs.
"I have no teeth to eat with," Young said with tears in her eyes. "And you know, this becomes critical."
And Young's teeth aren't her biggest health concern. Since childhood, Young has suffered from massive seizures and has been diagnosed differently by dozens of doctors. Current health care restrictions force her to travel hundreds of miles to see a doctor or go without care.
"I was referred to a specialist. The specialist under Medical, under dentiCAL is not even available in Fresno or Bakersfield," Young explained. "I have to travel to LA or San Francisco."
Stories like Young's are common all over the country, and it has everyone from President Obama to leaders in Kern County talking about changes that need to be made to healthcare. The Bakersfield forum was smaller in scale to the president's meeting in Virginia today, but the questions and concerns from people like Katie Young and local doctors are similar.
"The bottom line is healthcare is not free," Dr. Les Burson of Bakersfield Memorial Hospital said. "Americans want the best, they expect the best, they're being seen every day in E.R.'s throughout the country and by people here in Bakersfield, board-registered docs for free. Who pays for it? Everyone who has insurance pays for it through cost shifting."
"Are we going to tax these benefits?" Stephen Schilling of Clinica Sierra Vista questioned. "At what level are we going to tax those benefits?"
Jan Hefner, an audience member also wanted answers.
"We hear the frustration," Hefner said. "How can we turn to look at successful models to get this thing on track and get it moving?"
Concerns at the bakersfield forum will be discussed with both the White House and Congress. Rep. Jim Costa (D, Fresno) participated in the forum explained there is no time to waste
"Some people say 'don't do anything,'" Costa told 17 News after the forum. "By the year 2040 it will consume our entire budget. We must make changes to save taxpayers dollars and to provide the best healthcare for americans that we possibly can."
"I think the new administration is trying to get all the health care providers at the table," Costa added. "From doctors to hospitals to nurses to insurance companies, every element that has a stake in the health care debate in America. Not everybody is going to be happy but we've got to figure out a way to save and improve America's health care access."
President Obama wants a plan in place this year. Costa said there's a "very good chance" that will happen.
Congress is expected to take up the issue on Monday. President Obama made it clear that people with health care shouldn't see their costs go up, and he isn't backing plans to tax health care benefits.
If you missed the town hall meeting, KGET TV-17 will broadcast the meeting Sunday, July 5 at 3:30 PM.
