Boucher vote sparks protest

By CAITLIN SULLIVAN/Staff

U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher’s staff took notes from 13 people who showed up last week to voice concern over his vote on health care reform. The Democrat had voted no on the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.
Though it passed the House, some weren’t pleased with Boucher’s ballot.
Dueling protests, one supporting the congressman’s no vote and the other, across Main Street, opposing Boucher’s decision, set up outside his office.
Although most people protesting agreed there needs to be health care reform, they came out last week for different reasons. Some were retired government workers who thought their government run insurance was great and it should be available for everyone. Others believed health care reform should entail making private insurance available across state lines and instituting tort reform. Many of the latter camp said the House bill is unconstitutional.
“I support health care reform with a public option because I trust the government more than my insurance company,” said Jim Hawkins of Damascus.
Across the street, Riley Clark of Abingdon disagreed.
“I don’t believe the government can do anything as well as private industry,” he said.
According to a press statement on Nov. 7, Boucher said he opposes the House bill because he thinks a government-operated health insurance plan would put area hospitals at risk, especially given a public option would likely siphon customers from the private insurers, which reimburse hospitals at higher rates.
“Most of our hospitals are operated on a nonprofit basis for the benefit of the community,” Boucher said in the press release. “While most of their receipts are from Medicare and Medicaid payments, they lose money on each Medicare or Medicaid patient they treat. These programs reimburse hospitals at rates below the actual cost of providing patient care… A government operated plan would reimburse health care providers at rates approximating Medicare rates, and hospitals would lose money on each of their patients insured under the government plan.”
But Brian Johns of the Virginia Organizing Project, which organized the rally outside Boucher’s office, disagrees.
According to data from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the House bill would help the uninsured in Boucher’s District. He said that 16 percent of the 9th District is uninsured. The House bill would drop the number from 104,000 to 20,000.
Johns said that based on the assumption that hospitals would be paid for 50 percent of current uncompensated care costs, facilities throughout Boucher’s district would stand to gain.
He said Johnston Memorial’s net patient service revenue is $7.8 million. The hospital’s net income is $4.5 million with $7.8 million in uncompensated care, Johns said. It has operating margin of 5.8 percent, according to Johns. He said under the House bill, the reduction in uncompensated costs for Johnston Memorial would be $3.9 million.
He also said this bill has been vetted; while the Medicare Part D passed in 11 days, this bill has been through six months of consideration, three House committees and two Senate committees.
On the other side of the street, national president of the 10th Amendment Foundation Strother Smith of Abingdon said hospitals aside, the bill is just plain unconstitutional.
“The government is empowered to collect taxes and spend money,” he said. “They can tax me and if they want to use my tax money to pay for premiums with Medicare, that’s constitutional, (but) the government does not have the right to tell me to buy anything.”
Tony Mckenna of Abingdon said, “I’m on disability and my kids get Medicaid and we have no complaint. We definitely need health care reform but not in a way it takes away rights from other people.”
Across the street again, Lynn Manweiler of Abingdon said, “I feel our country is not concerned about the common man. I’m disappointed with the congressman’s vote.”
In regards to Boucher’s claim that area hospitals may go out of business in the House bill passed, she said that too many people face debt every day due to the current system costs.
“I can’t believe that by making it affordable it would put hospitals out of business,” Manweiler said. “I think it’s a scare tactic. It’s time for our elected officials and business leaders to lead and take care of everyone, not just those with means.”
Tim Mullins said when his father went into the hospital, his private insurance cut off his insurance in three days.
“He was rationed three days of care but ended up being in there for six months and costing taxpayers $1.6 million because Medicare had to pick up the bill,” Mullins said.
He said it’s a shame that America does not have universal health care and he believes that if there was universal care hospitals would take better care of their patients because they wouldn’t be focused on money so much.
Carolyn Lee of Abingdon said her 19-year-old grandson fell and crushed his neck and doesn’t have health insurance. She said now that he has a pre-existing condition she’s afraid he won’t be able to get insurance. She said she also supports the House bill because she believes members of the military deserve the best health care and does not think they’re getting it now.
“Veterans can’t get health insurance and they fought for this country and I think our country should fight for them with health care reform,” Lee said.
While some protesters ventured across the street to the opposing side, mostly the groups stayed separated by the road, waving signs and receiving honks from passing cars. There were a few shouts back and forth but after an hour both sides went home.
“I think it would be good to go over there or they come over here and talk to each other and listen and come to some sort of common ground,” Lee said. “Find out what’s best for us.”
To contact Caitlin Sullivan e-mail or call (276) 628-7101.