Reaction to healthcare reform debate
By: by Heather Sawaski
Updated: March 27, 2012
GREEN BAY, Wis. - The heated debate over President Obama's health care law reached the steps of the supreme court Monday. The nine justices began hearing three days of arguments over whether the law is constitutional.
Wisconsin is one of 27 states currently fighting health care reform, and seeking to overturn the law. And it's still a divisive issue among families and health care professionals.
Amelia Gorton is a happy and healthy eight year old, but back when she was just a toddler, her parents got the news no one wants to hear.
"Your heart just drops as a parent when you find out that your child has cancer," said her father Tim Gorton.
Just days after her second birthday, Amelia was diagnosed with a form of leukemia. She went through 2 1/2 years of treatments and chemotherapy and is now cancer-free. A majority of her care was covered by insurance, and her parents are thankful, under the health care reform law, if they ever change insurance providers, Amelia cannot be denied coverage due to her health history.
"As her parents," said Tim. "we're her best advocate, so we have to think of her long term insurance coverage."
Dr. Ashok Rai is the president and CEO of Prevea Health. While he's in favor of some aspects in health care reform, such as the pre-existing conditions clause, he doesn't believe insurance should be mandated by the government.
"If everybody doesn't have insurance, and a select few don't, but can get it at anytime without restrictions, it makes the price of insurance go through the roof," he explained. "It's like buying car insurance the day you have the accident."
Dr. Rai said the current legislation is turning medicine into a business.
"We also needed to focus on making sure people who are spending money on health care today are spending less and getting healthier and we didn't see that kind of focus," said Dr. Rai.
No matter what side of the issue, it seems most can agree the focus should be on the patients.
"We need Washington to come to towns like Green Bay, see what we're doing very well and try to replicate that," added Dr. Rai.
"That they look at a two year old girl who's gone through cancer and say, what's going to benefit her for the rest of her life?" said Amelia's mother, Mary.
The Supreme Court will continue hearing the case through Wednesday.
