Rasoul offers health care reform

By Bob Stuart

Published: June 11, 2008

FISHERSVILLE — A health care plan in Congress is the right elixir for soaring costs that are stifling business growth and keeping the elderly and uninsured from getting proper care, Sixth District congressional candidate Sam Rasoul said Wednesday.
The Democrat backs HR 676, a proposed single-payer health insurance plan that covers all Americans.
“The real solution to the health care crisis is a comprehensive plan that covers all Americans,” Rasoul said. “I support a single-payer solution that makes health care publicly funded and privately delivered.”
Rasoul’s opponent in November, incumbent Republican Bob Goodlatte, offered an opposing view.
“Rather than creating a massive government-managed health care bureaucracy that will dictate medical decisions from Washington,” he said, “we should be concentrating our efforts on making health care more affordable for all Americans and giving them the freedom to choose the health care and health insurance plans that best fit their needs.”
Goodlatte favors creating health care insurance tax credits, which, he said, “will increase the affordability of health care for those who do not have access to employer-based health insurance.”
In addition, Goodlatte backs expanded health savings accounts, medical malpractice reform and a nationwide health information technology network.
Rasoul offered his thoughts during an afternoon news conference at Fishersville’s Crossroads Baptist Church, with Augusta Medical Center in the background.
Rasoul was backed by testimony from local physician Dr. Jim LaGrua and Staunton business owner Terry Holmes.
Rasoul said until Congress passes a single-payer plan, businesses should get tax breaks to assist with full coverage for their employees.
As an example of the cost of health care to employers, Rasoul pointed to General Motors: “$1,525 of each vehicle made by General Motors goes for health care. That’s more than the cost of steel.”
He said the money spent on health care could be used more effectively for technology by GM.
Rasoul said the single-payer national health plan would rid the system of the excess money consumers and businesses now pay to fund CEO health care salaries and health care administration.
Holmes, a Staunton businessman, said his employees’ insurance has risen 10 to 15 percent annually for the past several years.
This year, Holmes said, he will be forced to pass on the increases directly to his employees, costing them $85 to $90 more a month.
LaGrua, an Augusta County primary care doctor, offered the cases of several patients he has seen in the past several months.
He said one, a 70-year-old woman, had not been able to fill her blood pressure prescriptions and others because she had exhausted her Medicare drug plan.
The doctor talked about another patient with a history of heart trouble who could not afford to give up his strenuous job because he might not get health care after he switched employers.
“He would have a pre-existing condition and would not be covered,’’ LaGrua said.
The physician said many uninsured go to the hospital emergency room for treatment, a stopgap that is not appropriate.
“The ER is not a good place to go for treatment of a chronic health problem,’’ he said.
“We have the most expensive health care system, but not the most efficient, effective or inclusive,’’ LaGrua said.
Rasoul said another reason for his support of HR 676 is that it is not socialized medicine.
He said the legislation would allow for private delivery of health care.
“This is a plan that moves America forward,’’ Rasoul said.