The Boyd Report Healthcare Tour Recap

The Boyd Report
"Healthcare Tour Recap"
By Congressman Allen Boyd

Access to quality, affordable healthcare is a critical part of American life. Unfortunately, over 45 million Americans are currently uninsured and thereby denied access to quality care. The rising costs of healthcare, lack of adequate insurance, and equitable access to that care are some of the toughest issues facing Congress and our nation in the 21st century.

During the past few years, my constituents have consistently voiced similar concerns about the availability, affordability and quality of healthcare in North Florida. I have been active in tackling these problems on a national level by working on issues such as prescription drugs, Medicare reimbursement rates, and medical malpractice reform. Although much more needs to be done in Washington, there is more that we can do at home as well. For this reason, I hosted a 15 city healthcare tour across North Florida last week to start a dialogue within our communities on healthcare. By bringing the community together, we will be able to turn these conversations into workable plans to help our citizens receive the quality healthcare they need and deserve.

With 15 healthcare community meetings from Live Oak to Santa Rosa Beach, no healthcare issue was left untouched. I have taken the concerns expressed by my constituents, members of the medical community, and area healthcare providers to help identify the local problems and resources unique to each community.

Many citizens in rural areas expressed the need for better access to healthcare facilities with improved local ambulance service and timelier transfers to major hospitals. These are problems that we as a community can tackle. County commissioners, other local leaders, members of the medical community and citizens must come together to develop a comprehensive strategy for enhancing healthcare opportunities for everyone. The city of Apalachicola has taken the first step by establishing a committee to address healthcare issues in their area. With representatives from local government and the area hospital as well as consumers, the 16-person committee will work to solve healthcare problems locally, and I urge other communities to follow suit. Through collaborative community efforts, healthcare concerns that seem insurmountable can become much more approachable.

In areas like Panama City and Tallahassee, the meetings centered on the issues of medical malpractice and more affordable healthcare with the high cost of prescription drugs. These are national issues that Congress must address. I will continue to work in Washington to reform medical malpractice law and help our seniors get the prescription drugs they need at a reasonable price. In January of 2006, the Medicare Prescription Drug Act will go into effect to alleviate some of the burden of high prescription drugs costs. Although this plan is not perfect and will inevitably require modifications in the future, it is a step in the right direction toward affordable prescription drug costs for our seniors.

The United States sets the world standard for quality medical care. The excellence and expertise of our medical system helps patients survive illnesses that once would have been fatal. Good physical and mental healthcare are essential for children to learn in school, for our nation's employees to be productive at work, and for our senior citizens to enjoy their well-deserved retirements. I implore the residents of North Florida to participate in planning the future of our healthcare system. Please know that I am working towards these goals in Washington, but I also ask that our citizens come together in their communities. If we all work together to recognize the problems and resources available, then we will also be able to find the answers and implement responsible and effective solutions. We must work together to make healthcare accessible and affordable for all Americans, because our nation's strength depends on the health of its citizens.

http://www.house.gov/boyd/pages/boyd_reports/br050301.htm