Lawmakers discuss area#039;s outlook at RCCHC Forum
Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 30, 2002
Members of the United States Congress, physicians and hospital administrators throughout the Tri-State attended a health forum yesterday, discussing topics ranging from prescription drugs to the cost of malpractice insurance.
The River Cities Community Health Coalition (RCCHC) was the host of the forum, conducted at Ohio University Southern Campus. Bob Maher, CEO of Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital
and chairman of the board, said this forum is an opportunity for representatives from Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia to come together and exchange ideas and learn about the health status of the area.
Congressmen Ted Strickland from Ohio’s 6th District and Ken Lucas from Kentucky’s 4th District attended the forum.
"Health care is such a big issue with our communities. Once you get past housing and food, it’s a big concern," Lucas said.
Representatives from various medical centers presented some of the successes of their programs, such as one where people can call a toll-free number between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. and get advice from nurses, and another to help people with no medical coverage afford prescription drugs.
Mike Stautberg, vice president of external affairs for OLBH, presented preliminary results of a survey conducted with Marshall University to identify regional health concerns. The survey had 465 respondents. One-fourth of the respondents were smokers, and 60 percent had no dental insurance. However, almost 100 percent had their children’s immunizations up to date.
Strickland commended the RCCHC’s programs, but he said much work needed to be done in improving health care, particularly for senior citizens who cannot afford prescription drugs. He said senior citizens end up paying the most for prescription drugs because drug companies negotiate discounts with customers such as HMOs, insurance companies, and the federal government. These customers buy large quantities, so they can negotiate discounts, he said. One senior citizen does not have the power to negotiate drug prices, he said.
"If there was a benefit, Medicare would buy a lot and be able to negotiate," Strickland said. Most senior citizens have multiple health problems, take multiple medications, are on fixed incomes, and have illnesses that will last for the rest of their lives, he said.
During a question-and-answer session with the congressmen, a physician brought up the topic of the rising cost of malpractice insurance.
Lucas said some of the problems in dealing with malpractice insurance can be solved by common sense. He said when people file frivolous lawsuits, the cost should go back to the ones filing the suit because even when those people lose, the ones they have sued still have to pay defense costs. Amelia A. Pridemore@irontontribune.com