Rep. Jerry McNerney: Health care bill will save money, not increase deficit

Rep. Jerry McNerney told constituents during a telephone town hall meeting Wednesday that the health care reform bill before Congress would lower costs to consumers, reduce the federal deficit, make sure that everyone is covered and not require anyone to participate in a public option.

McNerney, D-Pleasanton, spoke to constituents from Lodi to Morgan Hill during a one-hour town hall meeting held strictly by telephone. Seventeen residents, two of them from Lodi, asked questions.

Those who weren't able to ask McNerney a question during the one-hour town hall meeting was over were allowed to submit their questions on the phone at either of his district offices.

McNerney began the evening at 6:33 p.m. by talking for several minutes about the health care plan before Congress. He said he read the entire bill — more than 1,000 pages — from cover to cover. Among his comments:

America's health care system is the most expensive in the world. The United States spends almost twice as much per capita as other countries.

Health care costs are increasing at a higher rate than the economy as a whole. The current proposal would reduce costs.

If you are a middle-class American, your cost would not go up.

Those with insurance coverage would be allowed to keep it.

No one with pre-existing conditions would be excluded, and no one would face bankruptcy due to health problems.

The San Joaquin Valley has 30 percent fewer primary care physicians and 50 percent fewer specialists than the rest of California. The health care reform bill provides financial incentives for doctors to practice in the San Joaquin Valley.

Questions from residents within McNerney's congressional district ranged from the government's failure to administer other federal programs adequately to how America can finance health care when a reported 47 million new patients will be in the system.

One Lodi resident, identified only as Susan, asked whether taxpayers will subsidize health care for illegal aliens under the proposal. McNerney responded that no one living in this country illegally would be entitled to any advantage or credits from the bill.

A Lodi resident named Alice asked how senior citizens on Medicare with limited income would be affected. McNerney replied that the bill wouldn't have any effect on Medicare benefits, and make preventative treatment and tests free of co-payments.

"It will lower your costs over time," McNerney added.

Other responses to constituents' questions include:

Public option: No one would be forced to accept the public option, which McNerney described as another insurance plan competing with existing insurance companies. He anticipates that the competition will bring costs down.

Unemployed: Those who lose their job, are between jobs or self-employed would be covered under the plan.

Lower drug prices: Drug companies have agreed to reduce brand-name drugs by 50 percent. Further negotiations with drug companies is being discussed.

Assisted suicide: Responding to a Stockton resident named Skip, McNerney said that the controversial provision in the bill does not encourage ending life earlier. A doctor will be paid to talk to patients about issues like a living will, but only if the patient requests it. McNerney said he's not sure if the provision, known as "advanced directive," will be included in the final version of the bill.

Federal deficit: Responding to a Stockton resident named Doug on how the federal government will avoid spending more money than it takes in, McNerney said the public option will be financed by premium payments. "It won't add anything to federal budget, one way or the other," he added.

Tort reform: It's not in the plan, but it will be discussed.

More doctors: Linda, a Stockton resident, asked how more medical schools could be opened so more doctors rather than lawyers could enter the field. McNerney said that the bill would increase student scholarships and increase reimbursement to doctors for Medicare services. Also, the University of California, Merced, has opened a medical school.

Abortion: The bill doesn't change current law or require funding for abortions. No doctor would be required to perform an abortion.

Mental health: Responding to a disabled Stockton woman with a bipolar daughter, McNerney said that Congress will work hard to make sure that mental health services are improved.

Congress' health care: Members of Congress don't receive any special health care, McNerney said. They get the same health options that all federal employees have. McNerney is a Blue Cross member.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

How did the meeting work?

Rep. Jerry McNerney's office phoned people throughput the 11th Congressional District on Wednesday, asking them to participate in the phone-based meeting. Constituents were also allowed to call earlier in the week to make sure they were included.

At 6:33 p.m., McNerney made some introductory comments about the health care reform plan that Congress is considering before taking 17 calls from Lodi, Stockton, Manteca, Ripon, Tracy, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Danville and Morgan Hill residents.

Those who wanted to ask a question were instructed to press Star-3 on their phone. A McNerney staff member answered, taking down the resident's name, city of residence and the question. Residents were only announced on the phone by their first name.

Meanwhile, Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, whose district includes Galt, conducted his third in-person town-hall meeting on health care Wednesday, this one in Rancho Cordova. He conducted meetings in Citrus Heights and Jackson during the past week.

To submit questions or comments, call McNerney's Stockton office at 476-8552, or Lungren at (916) 859-9906. E-mails may be sent through McNerney's Web site, mcnerney.house.gov/contact.shtml, or Lungren's Web site, forms.house.gov/lungren/forms/email.shtml.

News-Sentinel staff

Reader Feedback

Cogito wrote on Sep 2, 2009 4:20 PM:

" Gio, and another reason it's cheaper, is that it's rationed. And another reason, is that if a certain therapy is available, like an expensive drug that could save your life, it's simply unavailable. and another reason is that they don't have government overregulation and malpractice attorneys driving up the costs. There are many reasons, and usually anything that's inferior just costs less. "

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